MEETINGS ARE HELD AT 425 MORRIS STREET, SEBASTOPOL, CA 95472 (SEBASTOPOL YOUTH ANNEX) UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTICED
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MINUTES FOR REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 15, 2025
As Approved by the City Council at their regular meeting of May 6, 2025
Please note that minutes of meetings are not meant to be verbatim minutes and are meant to be the City’s record of a summary of actions that took place at the meeting. The vote/action is the required information of the meeting actions that took place. Approved minutes are available on the City Council Meetings page.
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Zollman called the meeting to order at 6:01 pm ROLL CALL:
Present: Mayor Stephen Zollman
Vice Mayor McLewis
Councilmember Phill Carter
Councilmember Neysa Hinton
Councilmember Sandra Maurer
Absent: None
Staff: Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Mary Gourley
City Attorney Alex Mog
Administrative Services Director Kwong
Building Official Steve Brown
City Engineer/Public Works Director Mark Rincon Ibarra
Community Development Director Emi Theriault
Police Chief Sean McDonagh
SALUTE TO THE FLAG : Mayor Zollman led the salute to the flag.
REMOTE PARTICIPATION UNDER AB 2449 (IF NEEDED): To consider and take action on any request from a Council Member to participate in a meeting remotely due to Just Cause or Emergency Circumstances pursuant to AB 2449 (Government Code Section 549539(f)). Assembly Bill 2302 (2024) (“AB 2302”) revises rules for when members of local legislative bodies may participate in meetings remotely. Specifically, it amends the number of meetings that may be attended remotely for just cause and under emergency circumstances and clarifies the definition of the term “meeting,” for purposes of remote attendance. AB 2302 caps the number of remote meetings a member can attend each year based on the frequency of a legislative body’s meetings: Five meetings per year for those meeting twice a month.
None Required. All Councilmembers were in attendance.
PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS/INTRODUCTIONS: NONE
STATEMENTS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Conflicts of interest may arise in situations where a public official deliberating towards a decision, has an actual or potential financial interest in the matter before the Council. In accordance with state law, an actual conflict of interest is one that would be to the private financial benefit of a public official, a relative or a business with which the Councilmember is associated. A potential conflict of interest is one that could be to the private financial benefit of a Councilmember, a relative or a business with which the Councilmember is associated. A Councilmember must publicly announce potential and actual conflicts of interest, and, in the case of actual conflict of interest, must refrain from participating in debate on the issue or from voting on the issue and must remove themselves from the dais.
Vice Mayor McLewis stated she had a conflict of interest with item number 10 (Barlow) and would be recusing herself for that item.
ITEM NUMBER 1 AND 2:
The City Council conducted the following interviews:
1. Interview(s) for Openings on the Climate Action Committee Responsible Department: Community Development
Interviews will be conducted to interview three applicant(s) for three open seats from approved experience types/no specific categories requires other than stated below.
Preference will be shown for those persons with a variety of experience in any of the following categories.
Experience/characteristics:
• Youth representative (ages 17-23)
• Climate Change
• Sebastopol Business Owner
• Local Climate Action Group
• Environmental Justice and Equity
• Rights of Nature
• Energy
• Transportation
• Zero Waste
Interviews will start at 6:00 p.m.; it is estimated that interviews will be approximately 15 minutes each (but may be shorter or longer) and order of interviewees can be subject to change:
6:00 pm Steve Pierce
6:15 pm Emily Ocon
6:30 pm Lila Newton
Fiscal Impact: There is no fiscal impact with conducting the interviews.
City Council Action: No action taken. The Council interviewed applicants.
Reference Order Number: 2025-113
2. Appointment(s) for Openings on the Climate Action Committee:
Council to consider appointments to the Climate Action Committee based on interviews conducted earlier in the evening.
Mayor Zollman opened for public comment. There was none.
Mayor Zollman called for a motion.
MOTION:
Councilmember Maurer moved and Councilmember Hinton seconded the motion to approve the following appointments:
Steve Pierce
Emily Ocon
Lila Newton – youth representative
Mayor Zollman called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Maurer, Vice Mayor McLewis and Mayor Zollman Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
City Council Action: Approved the following appointments:
Steve Pierce
Emily Ocon
Lila Newton – youth representative
Minute Order Number: 2025-114
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (FIRST COMMENT PERIOD): Up to Twenty (20) Minute Time Limit (Two Minutes for up to ten speakers). Additional public comment will be held at the end of the discussion and action items for up to an additional twenty (20) minutes. Mayor has discretion to allow for additional time beyond the 20 minutes allocated for public comment dependent upon the subject matter or number of speakers.
Process for calling on Speakers: Mayor or designee shall ask for public comment as follows: Speakers to be called on in an alternate manner (One speaker in person to be called on first; then one speaker remote to be called on second with additional speakers to be called on in the same manner) based upon the time limit.
The following member(s) of the public spoke during public comment. NONE CONSENT CALENDAR: The consent agenda consists of items that are routine in nature and do not require additional discussion by the City Council or have been reviewed by the City Council previously. These items may be approved by one motion without discussion unless a member of the City Council requests that the item be taken off the consent calendar.
The Mayor will read aloud the title of each consent item (either full agenda title or a simplified version of the agenda title), and ask if a Councilmember wishes to remove one or more items from the consent calendar; and then open public comment to the members of the public in attendance. At this time, a member of the public may speak for up to two (2) minutes on the entire consent calendar and request at that time that an item or items removed for discussion.
If an item or items are removed from the consent calendar, the item shall be placed at the end of the regular agenda items unless otherwise determined by the Mayor. Council Members may comment on Consent Calendar items or ask for minor clarifications without the need for pulling the item for separate consideration. Items requiring deliberation should be pulled for separate consideration and shall be placed at the end of the regular agenda items unless otherwise determined by the Mayor.
Mayor Zollman asked if any Councilmember wanted to remove a consent calendar item.
There was no request.
City staff stated that supplemental materials were received and posted for Item Number 7.
Mayor Zollman opened for Public Comment(s).
The following member(s) of the public spoke during public comment: NONE Mayor Zollman called for a motion.
MOTION:
Councilmember Maurer moved and Vice Mayor McLewis seconded the motion to approve consent calendar items 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Mayor Zollman called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Maurer, Vice Mayor McLewis and Mayor Zollman Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
3. Approval of Minutes of the City Council Goals and Priority Workshop of April 1, 2025 (Responsible Department: Assistant City Manager/City Clerk) City Council Action: Approved Minutes of the City Council Goals and Priority Workshop of April 1, 2025 Minute Order Number: 2025-115
4. Approval of Minutes of the City Council Regular Meeting of April 1, 2025 (Responsible Department: Assistant City Manager/City Clerk) City Council Action: Approved Minutes of the City Council Regular Meeting of April 1, 2025 Minute Order Number: 2025-116
5. Approval and Adoption of Resolution Approving the appointment of NBS in preparation of the annual FY 2025-26 Lighting Assessment District
(Responsible Department: Administrative Services)
The cost for appointing NBS to prepare the annual FY25-26 Lighting Assessment District is $8,000 which as been allocated in the FY 24-25 City Budget
City Council Action: Approved Adoption of Resolution Approving the appointment of NBS in preparation of the annual FY 2025-26 Lighting Assessment District
Minute Order Number: 2025-117
Resolution Number:
6. Approval of Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance Amendment to Municipal Code for 15 Year Agreement for Garbage Franchise
(Responsible Department: Assistant City Manager/City Clerk; City Attorney) There is no fiscal impact associated with approval of this item City Council Action: Approved Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance Amendment to Municipal Code for 15 Year Agreement for Garbage Franchise
Minute Order Number: 2025-118
Ordinance Number: 1155
7. Acceptance of the Sebastopol Pavement Management Program (PMP) Budget Operations Report and authorize the City Manager to certify the PMP by letter to Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) by April 30 2025
(Responsible Department: Public Works/City Engineer)
There is no fiscal impact associated with approval of this item City Council Action: Approved Acceptance of the Sebastopol Pavement Management Program (PMP) Budget Operations Report and authorize the City Manager to certify the PMP by letter to Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) by April 30 2025
Minute Order Number: 2025-119
8. Acceptance of Receipt of Process / Next Steps from the City Council Goals and Priority Workshop (Requestor: Agenda Review Committee/Responsible Department: City Manager) There is no fiscal impact associated with receipt of this item City Council Action: Approved Acceptance of Receipt of Process / Next Steps from the City Council Goals and Priority Workshop
Minute Order Number: 2025-120
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/PRESENTATIONS: Informational Items or Presentations are items that are informational only and do not require action by the City Council. Presentations shall be scheduled as necessary for the promotion of an event or service or general information items to the Council and should be limited to ten (10) minutes total in length of item (total length includes questions of Council to presenter and public comment).
9. Informational Item - Merging the Planning Commission and Design Review Board (Responsible Department: Community Development)
There is no fiscal impact associated with receiving this informational report.
Community Development Director Emi Theriault provided the agenda item recommending the City Council receive the informational report.
Mayor Zollman asked for questions of staff. The Council asked questions of staff.
Mayor Zollman opened for public comment. The following member(s) of the public spoke:
Paul
Omar
Robert
Evert
City Council Discussion/Deliberations/Direction to Staff:
The Council provided comments on the item.
Mayor Zollman closed out the informational item.
City Council Action: No action taken. Informational item only.
Minute Order Number: 2025-121
Vice Mayor Lewis recused herself from Item Number 10 and departed the meeting.
PUBLIC HEARING(s):
10. Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance approving the Barlow Hotel Development Agreement. Applicant has requested a Development Agreement to allow the development and operation of an 83 room hotel, to be named the Barlow Hotel, at 6782 Sebastopol Avenue. The hotel would replace the existing 36,402 square foot Guayaki Yerba Mate building at this site and would make use of the “batch plant” lot at 385 Morris Street for overflow and valet parking (Responsible Department: Community Development)
The project would result in beneficial fiscal benefits applicable to the General Fund. See Fiscal Impacts section of the Staff Report for details.
Community Development Director Emi Theriault presented the agenda item and introduced Jane Riley, Consultant 4Leaf, who provided a presentation.
The applicant provided a presentation.
Mayor Zollman asked for questions of staff and presenters. The Council asked questions of staff and the applicant.
Mayor Zollman opened the public hearing. The following member(s) of the public spoke:
Lisa
Emily
Jeff
Wayne
Steve
Myriah
Lynn
A member of the public
Hearing no further comments, Mayor Zollman closed the public hearing.
City Council Discussion/Deliberations/Direction to Staff:
The Council discussed the project.
MOTION:
Councilmember Carter moved and Councilmember Hinton seconded the motion to approve Introduce and Waiving of First Reading of Ordinance approving the Barlow Hotel Development Agreement.
Mayor Zollman called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Maurer and Mayor Zollman Noes: None
Absent: Vice Mayor McLewis
Abstain: None
City Council Action: Approved Introduction and Waiving of First Reading of Ordinance approving the Barlow Hotel Development Agreement.
Minute Order Number: 2025-122
Ordinance Number: 1156
Vice Mayor McLewis returned to her seat on the dias.
REGULAR CALENDAR AGENDA ITEMS (DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION):
11. Approval of Resolutions Bringing Back Calder Creek Phase 1 Ives Park:
a. Resolution of the City Council of the CITY OF SEBASTOPOL, authorizing the submittal of an application for funding for $1,800,000 grant to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District’s Matching Grant Program for ‘BRINGING BACK CALDER CREEK PHASE I, located at IVES PARK; 7400 WILLOW STREET, SEBASTOPOL, CA, determining that the project is consistent with the CITY General Plan; acknowledging review of all Matching Grant Program Guideline materials and attachments; acknowledging that there are or will be sufficient match funds and funds to operate and maintain the project; and authorizing the City Manager to sign and submit all required documentation for the application and grant agreement documents, if awarded; and b. Resolution of the City Council of the City if Sebastopol authorizing the submittal of an application for funding for $1,800,000 grant to the Department of Water Resources for ‘BRINGING BACK CALDER CREEK PHASE I, located at IVES PARK; 7400 WILLOW STREET, SEBASTOPOL, CA, determining that the project is consistent with the CITY General Plan; acknowledging review of all Matching Grant Program Guideline materials and attachments; acknowledging that there are or will be sufficient match funds and funds to operate and maintain the project; and authorizing the City Manager to sign and submit all required documentation for the application and grant agreement documents, if awarded.
(Requestors: Councilmember Carter and Councilmember Maurer/Responsible Department: Public Works/City Engineer and Community Development)
Fiscal Impact: Initial information provided to staff indicates that there would be no fiscal impact to the City; the project consultant California Urban Streams Partnership (CUSP) would use funds from one grant to act as matching funds for a second grant. This information has not been confirmed as of the writing of the staff report. However, it would be required to be confirmed prior to acceptance of grants.
Community Development Director Emi Theriault presented the agenda item.
Mayor Zollman asked for questions of staff and consultant. The Council asked questions of staff and CUSP.
Mayor Zollman opened for public comment. The following member(s) of the public spoke:
Lisa
Steve
A member of the public
Robert
City Council Discussion/Deliberations/Direction to Staff:
The Council discussed the request.
MOTION:
Councilmember Maurer moved and Councilmember Carter seconded the motion to approve Resolutions Bringing Back Calder Creek Phase 1 Ives Park:
a. Resolution of the City Council of the CITY OF SEBASTOPOL, authorizing the submittal of an application for funding for $1,800,000 grant to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District’s Matching Grant Program for ‘BRINGING BACK CALDER CREEK PHASE I, located at IVES PARK; 7400 WILLOW STREET, SEBASTOPOL, CA, determining that the project is consistent with the CITY General Plan; acknowledging review of all Matching Grant Program Guideline materials and attachments; acknowledging that there are or will be sufficient match funds and funds to operate and maintain the project; and authorizing the City Manager to sign and submit all required documentation for the application and grant agreement documents, if awarded; and
b. Resolution of the City Council of the City if Sebastopol authorizing the submittal of an application for funding for $1,800,000 grant to the Department of Water Resources for ‘BRINGING BACK CALDER CREEK PHASE I, located at IVES PARK; 7400 WILLOW STREET, SEBASTOPOL, CA, determining that the project is consistent with the CITY General Plan; acknowledging review of all Matching Grant Program Guideline materials and attachments; acknowledging that there are or will be sufficient match funds and funds to operate and maintain the project; and authorizing the City Manager to sign and submit all required documentation for the application and grant agreement documents, if awarded. Introduce and Waiving of First Reading of Ordinance approving the Barlow Hotel Development Agreement.
Mayor Zollman called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Maurer, and Vice Mayor McLewis Noes: Mayor Zollman
Absent: None
Abstain: None
City Council Action:
a. Approved Resolution of the City Council of the CITY OF SEBASTOPOL, authorizing the submittal of an application for funding for $1,800,000 grant to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District’s Matching Grant Program for ‘BRINGING BACK CALDER CREEK PHASE I, located at IVES PARK; 7400 WILLOW STREET, SEBASTOPOL, CA, determining that the project is consistent with the CITY General Plan; acknowledging review of all Matching Grant Program Guideline materials and attachments; acknowledging that there are or will be sufficient match funds and funds to operate and maintain the project; and authorizing the City Manager to sign and submit all required documentation for the application and grant agreement documents, if awarded; and b.Resolution of the City Council of the City if Sebastopol authorizing the submittal of an application for funding for $1,800,000 grant to the Department of Water Resources for ‘BRINGING BACK CALDER CREEK PHASE I, located at IVES PARK; 7400 WILLOW STREET, SEBASTOPOL, CA, determining that the project is consistent with the CITY General Plan; acknowledging review of all Matching Grant Program Guideline materials and attachments; acknowledging that there are or will be sufficient match funds and funds to operate and maintain the project; and authorizing the City Manager to sign and submit all required documentation for the application and grant agreement documents, if awarded. Introduce and Waiving of First Reading of Ordinance approving the Barlow Hotel Development Agreement.
Minute Order Number: 2025-123
Resolution Number: 6658-2025
6659-2025
12. Appointment to Climate Directors Coordination Meeting. That the City Council consider appointment from either the Climate Action Committee or direct appointment of the Community Development Director to be part of an informal Climate Directors Coordination Meeting.
Currently, RCPA facilitates a bi-monthly Members and Partners meeting with staff representation from each jurisdiction. These meetings are effective for sharing information and facilitating collaboration on climate action but lack decision makers for real time action. The Climate Directors Meeting frequency is TBD, but somewhere between monthly and quarterly. This model has been effective on the transportation side of the house with the monthly Public Works Directors meeting.
(Responsible Department: Councilmember Hinton/Responsible Department: City Manager) There is no fiscal impact with approval of this item to the City’s budget other than staff time.
Councilmember Hinton presented the agenda item.
Mayor Zollman asked for questions of Councilmember Hinton. The council asked questions of Councilmember Hinton and staff.
Mayor Zollman opened for public comment. The following member(s) of the public spoke:
Steve
Robert
City Council Discussion/Deliberations/Direction to Staff:
The Council discussed the appointment.
MOTION:
Councilmember Hinton moved and Councilmember Carter seconded the motion to approve that the City Council provide direction to the City Manager to have the Community Development Director or member of the Planning Director appointed to attend these informal meetings.
Mayor Zollman called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, and Maurer
Noes: Vice Mayor McLewis and Mayor Zollman
Absent: None
Abstain: None
City Council Action: Approved that the City Council provide direction to the City Manager to have the Community Development Director or member of the Planning Director appointed to attend these informal meetings.
Minute Order Number: 2025-124
13. Consideration of Waiver of Fees: Rotary Centennial
(Responsible Department: Public Works/City Engineer)
Fiscal Impact: Loss of revenue of $500
City Engineer/Public Works Director Mark Rincon Ibarra presented the agenda item.
Mayor Zollman asked for questions. There were none.
Mayor Zollman opened for public comment. The following member(s) of the public spoke: None City Council Discussion/Deliberations/Direction to Staff:
There was no further discussion.
MOTION:
Councilmember Maurer moved and Councilmember Carter seconded the motion to approve waiver of Special Event Permit fees for the Centennial Celebration in the amount of $500.00.
Mayor Zollman called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Maurer, Vice Mayor McLewis and Mayor Zollman Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
City Council Action: Approved waiver of Special Event Permit fees for the Centennial Celebration in the amount of $500.00.
Minute Order Number: 2025-125
14. Consideration of Waiver of Fees: Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce 2025 Apple Blossom Festival & Parade
(Responsible Department: Public Works/City Engineer)
Fiscal Impact: Special Event Permit Fee: $750.00; Public Works Staff Time: $5,200.00; Material/Rentals: $3,000.00 and Police Staff Time: $5,670.00 for a Total Loss of Revenue of $14,620.00
City Engineer/Public Works Director Mark Rincon Ibarra presented the agenda item.
Mayor Zollman asked for questions. The Council asked questions of staff.
Mayor Zollman opened for public comment. The following member(s) of the public spoke:
Myriah
City Council Discussion/Deliberations/Direction to Staff:
The Council discussed the request.
MOTION:
Councilmember Carter moved and Councilmember Maurer seconded the motion to approve waiver of Special Event Permit fees for the Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce 2025 Apple Blossom Festival & Parade in the amount of $14,620.00; as amended:
• To request the Chamber to bring officially to their board the request to consider paying hard costs back to the City if the event was successful.
Mayor Zollman called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Maurer, and Vice Mayor McLewis Noes: Mayor Zollman
Absent: None
Abstain: None
City Council Action: Approved waiver of Special Event Permit fees for the Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce 2025 Apple Blossom Festival & Parade in the amount of $14,620.00; as amended:
• To request the Chamber to bring officially to their board the request to consider paying hard costs back to the City if the event was successful.
Minute Order Number: 2025-126
CORRECTION TO DISCUSSION OF ITEM NUMBER 14 AFTER THEMEETING: It was noted during the meeting that staff indicated the Chamber did not reimburse the city for fees for the 2024 Apple Blossom. Upon further investigation after the meeting, it was determined that the Chamber submitted a check to the City for reimbursement of materials (not staff time) in the amount of $2,905.71 for reimbursement of materials only.
15. Consideration of Waiver of Fees -Easter Egg Hunt
(Responsible Department: Public Works/City Engineer)
Fiscal Impact: Loss of Revenue of $400.00
City Engineer/Public Works Director Mark Rincon Ibarra presented the agenda item.
Mayor Zollman asked for questions. There were none.
Mayor Zollman opened for public comment. The following member(s) of the public spoke: NONE City Council Discussion/Deliberations/Direction to Staff:
There was no further discussion.
MOTION:
Councilmember Maurer moved and Vice Mayor Lewis seconded the motion to approve waiver of Special Event Permit Fees for the Easter Egg Hunt in the amount of $400.00.
Mayor Zollman called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Maurer, Vice Mayor McLewis and Mayor Zollman Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
City Council Action: Approved waiver of Special Event Permit Fees for the Easter Egg Hunt in the amount of $400.00.
Minute Order Number: 2025-127
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA: Two minutes per speaker for up to twenty (20) minutes total for public comments but can be reduced at Mayor’s discretion depending upon the number of speakers or Mayor has discretion to allow for additional time beyond the 20 minutes allocated for public comment dependent upon the subject matter or number of speakers.
Myriah- commented the Chamber did reimburse the City for fees for the 2024 Apple Blossom Event.
CORRECTION TO DISCUSSION OF ITEM NUMBER 14 AFTER THEMEETING: It was noted during the meeting that staff indicated the Chamber did not reimburse the city for fees for the 2024 Apple Blossom. Upon further investigation after the meeting, it was determined that the Chamber submitted a check to the City for reimbursement of materials (not staff time) in the amount of $2,905.71 for reimbursement of materials only.
COUNCILMEMBER(S) REQUESTS FOR FUTURE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS NONE
CITY COUNCIL/CITY STAFF REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS/ANNOUNCEMENTS/FUTURE MEETINGS:
16. City Manager and/or City Clerk Reports: (This will be either verbal reports at the meeting, or written reports provided at or prior to the meeting)
a. Departmental Reports
b. Budget Recap of Budget Committee Meeting of April 8, 2025 Reference Order Number: 2025-128
17. City Council Reports/Committee/Sub-Committee Meeting Reports: (Reports by Mayor/City Councilmembers Regarding Various Agency Meetings/Committee Meetings/Sub-Committee Meeting /Conferences Attended and Possible Direction to its Representatives (If Needed) on Pending issues before such Boards. ((This will be either verbal reports at the meeting, or written reports provided at or prior to the meeting)
The Council provided reports on various meetings and committees.
18. Council Communications Received (Information/Meetings/Correspondence Received from the General Public to Councilmembers)
CTTY COUNCILTO ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION
CLOSED SESSION:
PUBLIC COMMENT
This is a Special Meeting. This public comment time is provided for members of the public to address the City Council regarding matters of municipal concern for the item listed below (maximum of three minutes per speaker) prior to adjournment into Closed Session.
There was no public comment.
City Council Adjourn Into Closed Session on the Following Matter(s):
CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS:
19. Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release
Government Code Section 54957
Reference Order Number: 2025-129
Adjournment of Closed Session: Mayor Zollman adjourned the closed session meeting at 10:48 pm Convene Open Session of the Special City Council Meeting: Mayor Zollman reconvened the regular city council meeting at 10:49 pm.
Report out of Closed Session: Mayor Zollman read a prepared statement.
ADJOURNMENT OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Mayor Zollman adjourned the regular City Council Meeting of April 15, 2025 at 10:50 pm to the next Regular City Council Meeting of Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 6:00 pm, Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris Street, Sebastopol, CA.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary C. Gourley
Assistant City Manager/City Clerk
ATTACHMENT: RAW ZOOM TRANSCRIPT
City Council Meeting - April 15, 2025
So we will move on to agenda item number one which is interviews for the openings on the climate action committee. The mayor will state item is to interview for openings on the climate action committee. And we will go ahead and call the first applicant and I think according to the agenda that would be --
It is Steve Pierce?
Yes, Mr. Pierce. thank you very much for applying and for your time, and now this is time for the fellow councilmembers to ask any questions. They might have.
Some statements?
Sure.
Well, first off, Steve Pierce, you might be surprised to find out that I'm not actually on the committee since it probably seemed like I have been since its inception. In fact, Laura today, I think you had it, not on the committee. So I have a pretty extensive qualifications for the position. I had an energy consulting business, title 24 energy compliance for 12 years. And I have done a lot of community involvement around energy issues and in particular here in Sebastopol. I did quite a bit in Berkeley and then when I moved up here 30 odd years ago I continued it here. And I want to talk a little bit about the -- where the committee has been and where I hope to see it go. So we have been around since I think it is 2019 or so, and we ended up doing climate action framework, which my sincere hope is that it will not end up being a shelf document. It took a fair amount of work and I also hoped that it would then lead to some actual funding that we could get. So we then convince the city to hire or the maintenance convince the city to hire a grant writing position. $60,000 grant writing position. In those grants, unfortunately, did not pan out. We got a handful of grants that were not really climate related all that much. There were quite a few applications for grants, but given that we have a difficult time when it comes to the equity side of the equation for Sebastopol to get those grants, we are not actually able to turn that into subsequent climate action. After that, our next major beat was the electrification survey. And you might be interested to find out that the regional climate protection authority, just this past week, started and electrification survey, largely based on a lot of the questions that we ask. I had actually approached them and said you know, actually it would be better to get out there and survey contractors because we see them as the key ingredient here to advanced electrification. We kind of know by and large what the public thinks, but they went ahead and did it, so it will be interesting to see what kind of response they get and how well it compares to Sebastopol's notification survey. We put a fair amount of work into that in both outreach and in the analysis after the fact. So hopefully they will have a commensurate amount of effort into theirs. And now during that whole period we gave away a lot of compost. I think it is two or three times a year now that the city has managed to, with the climate action committee in the lead, working with zero waste Sonoma to distribute compost. It has probably been the most visible thing that the committee has done for the community, and I think it is greatly appreciated. It is one of those hands-on things that the city does on a regular basis that people can say hey, that came from the city. So now, over the past year we have sort of been a bit in a holding pattern, as you can well imagine, given the severe fiscal constraints that the city is facing. And now we are down to 10 hours a month staff time. It remains to be seen how well that is going to pan out. I am in total agreement with the regional climate protection authority, what they saw is what we should be working on. I am in agreement.
We should be looking at, number one, education, number two, the active transportation plan.
There is quite a bit of low hanging fruit and we do not want to see the city just sort of produce another document and then it sits on a shelf. So we want to move on those doable actions. So I see those as the two main priorities. In addition, I have heard that Mayor Zollman and councilmember Carter have been approaching Sonoma clean power for some potential projects here in Sebastopol and I am very encouraged by that. I think that we need to see where we can leverage regional actors like the counties climate action resiliency division, Sonoma clean power, and the our CPA. In fact, the RCPA is just now launching an ambassador program for electrification. It is not an easy task to electrify homes and businesses. It is confusing and they are providing services to help people along with that. So we want to promote those services. Unfortunately, we are only looking at doing about 80 in the first year for the entire county, but I think we can make some progress there. Thank you.
Thank you, and to questions from my colleagues? Councilmember Maurer? Thank you. You have been on the committee for several years and when you get the position you can get a vote. So I question is, from all the things in the framework, what is inspiring you right now? Are there any hands-on projects that you would like to bring to Sebastopol ?
Well I think the active transportation -- I have been, I met with the bike Sebastopol folks and we came up with a list and we want to move that through the committee and if need be, through the planning commission and then on to the Council to get some action on what we see as very doable things. It is almost -- personally it is kind of a let's test. If we cannot get some of these easy things done then we cannot get much done at all.
I think would be helpful to have the climate group you know, kind of be the watchdog for those projects and making sure that they are moving through. Yeah, so is your wife, Lisa, still on the committee?
She is.
Can you address the fact that you are a couple and that you would have two votes on what is it, a seven-member board now?
It is a seven-member board and maybe this is the first time in Sebastopol you have a husband and wife on a committee, but like in a couple, we will disagree on things. And I really do not see that as an issue.
Okay, that is all for now.
Thank you, councilmember Carter.
Firstly, I am very glad that you're coming back to provide leadership for the climate action committee, and I can see a brave New World coming as far as like it's participation within the city and the opportunities to do things. Even though we are quite understaffed in so many ways. It will be up to the CAC to provide some services that eventually help us get to a better place. Like you know, if you want to use metrics to help with Sonoma clean powers advisement on projects, that would be wonderful but I think we can save power, we can convert, we can be a leader among all cities in California and be one of the first to get to our net zero goals, or close to them, or at least define what they are. I'm excited about this and I know that your leadership in the past has been you know, incredible to get it to the place that it is. So thank you for coming on.
I did want to mention that I also created a website, city climate dashboard.org, where I look at publicly available data sets for natural gas, electricity, solar installations, electric cars, gasoline, and transit and solid waste. And I have all the major cities in California, with graphs showing how well we are doing in those respective areas.And I've got to tell you, Sebastopol is doing really well when it comes to electric cars and solar installations. But our issue still is natural gas. We use more natural gas in the residential area than any city in Sonoma County. So it is something that we desperately need to work on.
Thank you, and just keeping an eye on the time, we are going to move on to our second applicant at 6:15.
In your last bullet point, you talk about serving the residents with businesses and I am a huge supporter of that, so I just wondered, I wanted to hear I guess just how committed you are to like you know, working with the group to get that survey done. I think that is important, economic development is what we need and doing that in line with the climate initiatives to me is like the perfect --
What you were referring to, if I'm not mistaken, is looking at surveying residents of -- what drives you over to Santa Rosa? Why do you go over there, what you go over there to buy, and what is sold there that we could potentially sell here and lessen the number of trips? I don't think that is a high priority. I'm interested in it. But we would look for some direction from our new community development director.
In the few minutes we have left, any additional questions? No questions, just thanks for applying. I know that you have a lot of experience and I think you would be lips
I had one quick question as well. So we mentioned the composition, which is seven, and so generally in a few minutes, what are your feelings about the new composition and how that landed?
I think seven members is fine, it is the 10 hours and how that will shake out that will be where the rubber meets the road.
Thank you, understood.
This is a question from the public, will the compost giveaway continue? The person running it now, I understand he is supposed to step down?
Our intention is to keep it going. We have an event this Saturday and then next year I think we are planning on continuing it. And then the following year I believe there is the hope that Sonoma County will have their compost facility up and going. Once that is happening it will transition to a site, to that site.
Great, thank you, and thank you again for your up line and your time here this evening.Emily Ocon? Apologies. so we will follow the same format that was suggested by councilmember Maurer. Any introductory comments before we dive into questions? Maybe just an introduction of who I am since I am relatively new to these meetings and I'm delighted to be involved in Sebastopol city Council. I applied to the climate action committee because I moved to town in 2022 with my young family. We are all avid like commuters and happy to be in the small town. We come from San Francisco, the Haight-Ashbury. But my background is corporate engagement and social impact work with a particular interest in environmental resource groups. So I wanted to put my experience and engagement talents towards gathering community members and getting them involved in reuse and repair fares with the nonprofits that are doing great work here. I know Sebastopol is leading the way and a lot of these wonderful environmental initiatives. And thank you, Phil, we have spoken a little bit since we are on a similar board for youth sports. I see a lot of potential in Sebastopol being a leader in environmental leadership for small towns. So there was another point I was going to make, and I have just lost it for the moment, but please send your questions. I'm happy to answer them and excited to be here.
Great, thank you for applying and for your time. Questions from councilmember Carter? This is kind of a question, not questions. But I know that you have a lot of climate experience and that you just said that you would like to add some more projects to the climate action committee. There are like five roles that you could have filled that are part of this.
What section do you think you slot into most?
I was interested in learning more about the planning commission liaison. I was not sure if that role was somebody who liaise with committee members, small businesses, or corporations. I would love if there was a little more information about what that role does or if it is one that you are still looking for.
I think you can create it. You can make it what you need to make it.
Councilmember Maurer?
I think that position is actually for someone on the planning commission to be a liaison to the climate action committee, but you could be the liaison for them. you know, it is good to be a watchdog. That would be a good role.
And then we could get that clarified now with our community development.
Yes, good evening. I'm the department director.
Hi, nice to meet you. So while that is not a current required role if you look through the list on page one of the staff report, the planning commission liaison was one of the old types that would be required. That said, I love the idea of having the communication between the different committees commissioned. So as long as it is either a consensus of the committee, or you clarify it is your personal opinion versus consensus comments, you could go to any planning commission meeting and express what is going on with the committee, I love that.
Fantastic.
I'm sorry, councilmember Maurer.
Could you tell us a few projects you are inspired about that you would like to see happen? In the fall I completed a fellowship with climate base. They are the nonprofit organization that puts on San Francisco climate week. I have been focused on some of the low-impact events that are happening for that function over the course of the next week. But as far as projects I am particularly interested in myself, it has to do with repair and reuse. First of all, there is the compost event that is happening and I own some property -- I am in the unincorporated but in Sebastopol city limits kind of distinction. So I represent neighbors in that area that are kind of in the city but looking to kind of help there small farms. I am also interested in bringing more reuse and repair fares, bicycle repair fares, goods and services and stuff like that and I also have, I have a little bit of an events background. I have studied that and studied recreation Parks and tourism at Cal poly and had a concentration in special events and I noticed since there are so many festivals, this is a destination, there is a lot of tourism bringing a little bit of perspective around low-impact, low waste and kind of downstream waste management. I know we have a new waste management vendor coming in the middle of this year. But that is something I personally am passionate about. I really care about waste. Call me your garbage person.
Thank you, councilmember Carter.
Speaking to that directly, like it may be good to talk with the chamber about some of these events and then not just the Apple Blossom, but the one also. And they can, since we have a different provider we could use your experience.
Absolutely. Have her contact me.
Turning to my right, any questions?
No, just like you for applying. It seems like you are very qualified and it is good to have new energy on these committees. Thanks for being new to town and volunteering and jumping right in.
Agreed. And the same question I had for the last candidate, so you are aware of the sevenmember composition? Do you see any challenges or do you have any comments or concerns? No, I don't have any issues with that. Does that mean that it is me versus Steve as a new applicant coming in?
There are seven categories of people, and that was decided pretty much by the entity itself but no questions, no concerns?
Yeah.
Anything else? No? Okay. Well, thank you very much for your time, and we will be deliberating on the appointments at the next agenda item. so Mary, it is okay to move on even though we are early? Okay. Good. Because I know the last time I messed that up . so thank you. So the next one is Lila Newton. thank you very much for applying. Thank you for your time. And similar to what we did with the last two applicants, if there are certain things you want to share with us and then we will dive into questions.
Yeah, so one thing I feel like is really important is I really see like the effects of climate change in different places and I feel like a lot of my classmates and stuffed out and so I'm interested in sort of more outreach and education to youth and I just I don't know, I am also sort of a be finding ways of entertainment that are not as resource useful and like maybe even help in a way. and also just like doing what I can to make a difference.
Thank you. Questions? From my colleagues, councilmember Carter? I'm super excited to see you up here. You know, I feel confident, you know? Take this and do whatever you want with it. This is the opportunity to make your world better. And you know, what I would kind of hope is that you also maybe gather a couple people to also join.
You know? Because the more the merrier, right ? thank you.
Additional questions councilmember Maurer?
Thank you for applying for this position. Is there anything in particular, any project you are excited about or inspired by that you would like to see happen? Not in particular. And I want to you know, figure out more but like I said like sort of things that are more like accessible and easy to do for youth. Like high schoolers, so that they can also like at my school there was a one planet living class and then it changed and it was not as much about one planet living because people found it depressing and stuff, so I wanted to be where it can be fully educated and feel like we're making a difference and not just feel hopeless about it.
Sounds important, thank you.
And just to keep things consistent, so the body decided it would be seven different categories of people that you would be working with if you were appointed. You have any questions or concerns about who you would be working with basically on the committee? Not really. I don't know if I entirely understand that set up but I don't have any concerns right now.
Great. Can we turn to the department head to fill in the applicant about the seven different categories of people she would be working with?
Sure. The seven categories are youth representative, which you would -- time it change, Sebastopol business owner, local climate action group , environmental justice and equity, rights of nature, energy and transportation and zero waste as well as Council liaison.
Okay, that sounds cool.
Thank you again for your time. Additional questions or comments? Okay. Thank you again and we will move on to the discussions and appointments on the next item. So thank you. that was refreshing and a nice way to start a council meeting. So Mary, it is okay to move on to agenda item number two, correct? Okay, so agenda item number two is appointments for the openings on the climate action committee from all the wonderful people who applied.
And so yes, we are going to consider the applicant's based on the interviews that were just completed . and so we should turn to public comment. Is that correct, Mary? Yes, assuming there is no question from the Council before we move forward? Any questions before we got to public comment Mark
Thank you, so this is for public comment on the appointments to the climate action committee based upon previous interviews just conducted. If you would like to make a public comment I will go in chambers first and then go back out to zoom, it is a two minute time limit so I will check in chambers if there is anyone that would like to make a public comment? Seeing none, I will go out to zoom. If there's anybody on zoom that would like to make a comment please raise your hand virtually. Seeing none, there is no public comment.
The now back up to the dais for council deliberation or a motion. Councilmember Maurer? Can I make a motion to approve all three candidates? Does that work? Mary? Yes, assuming you're going to put the youth in the youth representative position, I would like to clarify that, yes, so you can make the motion and you would like to appoint all three in the youth representative position.
Is there a second?
Second. That you have a question for which ever one seconded? All right, there we go. And so then roll call?
Thank you, Mayor. So moved by councilmember Maurer and seconded by councilmember Hinton to approve Steve Pierce, Emily Ocon and Lila Newton to the youth representative on the climate action committee. Councilmember Carter? Councilmember Hinton, councilmember Maurer , Mayor Zollman ? Motion passes unanimously.
A great way to start the meeting and thank you again so much for all of your time following - - filling out applications and we are looking forward to the great things to come. So thank you. You are more than welcome staying on or whatever you would like. So now you going to move on to public comment for items not on the agenda. This is an opportunity for members of the public to speak on matters within the jurisdiction of the city Council, which are not otherwise on the agenda. Due to the length of recent Council meetings it strongly encourages that public comments be submitted to the city Council by sending them via email to [email protected] with public comment written in the subject line. So Mary, could you do public lips
a stated this is public comment for items that are not on tonight's agenda. If you would like to make a public comment, again, I will come to chambers first, go back out to zoom. It is a two minute time limit. Is there anyone in the chambers that would like to make a comment for an item not on the agenda? Seeing none, I will go out to zoom. If there is anyone on zoom that would like to make a public comment for an item not on the agenda please raise your hand virtually. seeing none, there is no public comment.
Great, moving on to the consent calendar. We have several items. Number three. Approval of minutes of the city Council goals and priority workshop of April first 2025, approval of minutes of the city Council regular meeting of April first 2025. Approval and adoption of resolution approving the appointment of NBS in preparation for the annual fiscal year 2025 26 lighting assessment district. Again, this is important. The cost of appointing to prepare the lighting assessment district is 8000. Which has been allocated in the 2425 city budget . number six, approval of second reading and adoption of ordinance amendment to municipal cord for a 15 year agreement for a garbage franchise. The responsible department there is the assistant city manager, city clerk and city attorney. Again, there is no physical impact associated with approval of this item. Number seven, acceptance of Sebastopol pavement management program PMP, budget operations report and authorize the city manager to certify that PMP by Metropolitan by a letter to the Metropolitan transportation committee by April 30th. And to know also there is no fiscal impact associated with approval of this item.
Number eight, acceptance of receipt of process next step, next steps from the city Council goals and priority workshop. And again, there is no fiscal impact associated with receipt of this item. and I believe that is it. And then I will look to my colleagues to see if anybody would like to pull the items? Looking to my right, looking to my left. Seeing none, public comment.
I wanted to state that the Council and it was posted to the city website, did receive the supplemental pavement report for item number seven and that was submitted after it was posted on the city website as well.
So this is for the public comment for the consent calendar items. If you would like to make a public comment on one of the consent calendar items only, again, I will come into chambers first and then go back out to zoom. If there is anybody that would like to make a public comment on the consent calendar? Seeing none, I will go out to zoom. If there's anybody on zoom that would like to make a comment on one of the consent calendar items, please raise your hand virtually. Seeing none, there is no public comment.
Back up to the dais, is there a motion to approve the items? I will make a motion to approve the calendar items.
Counselor Maurer moved and Hinton sent us the seconded. oh, sorry. I heard a voice, thought it was further down. Sorry Mary.
And so moved by councilmember Maurer and seconded by councilmember McLewis to approve three, four, five, six, seven and eight. Councilmember Carter? Councilmember Hinton, councilmember Maurer? Councilmember McLewis, Mayor Zollman? Council approves unanimously.
We have number nine, the merging of the planning commission and design review board, the responsible party is community development. Again, to note, there is no fiscal impact associated with receiving this informational report, and again, this is just on for information so I will turn it over to our department head of community development.
Thank you, and good evening Mayor and years of council. as part of a prior planning department to view of potential efficiency improvements, a proposal to merge the resign board into one body was suggested and that is the nature of this informational item by way of reference I should say by the way, that we did receive a late mail item from the planning commission. by way of background, the design review board also serves as a treat committee and they meet on a regular basis on the second Tuesday of each month. And they also at the same location here. The planning commission meets the same date and sorry, later in the evening with no specific ending time for their meetings. occasionally when there is a large item, for example later on tonight's agenda there is the Barlow Hotel item. When it is a complicated or a significant item, sometimes the design review board and the planning commission will meet in a joint meeting to make the process more efficient, and also to make sure that there is good transparency over time. Sometimes it is better to have a joint meeting so that the public is able to come to one meeting as opposed to several meetings if they so choose and also there is good communication between the different bodies. this item was brought before the design review board back in January of this year. And a copy of that report is attached to the written report that was posted online submitted to council. At that time, the design review board was supportive of the measure subject to the five-member body, the majority of which essentially four members would be design professionals whether they be landscape architects, architects, construction professionals or that sort of thing. The planning commission reviewed it at two different meetings in February of this year and then again in March. In March they voted and at that time there were new members making up the body and they had decided to recommend against the mergers. as an additional efficiency measure, staff has been considering is order of review. Right now the way the city has been reviewing design review in the past is items have gone to the planning commission, the city Council and then back to the design review board for large items. This is contrary to best management processes and to my knowledge every other jurisdiction in the county always does design review first and then that way if there is substantive changes that need to happen that could affect all those other decisions down the line, they are caught at that stage. The designs are rework and then they get submitted for review by the planning commission, city Council and that sort of thing. That is not something that requires an amendment to the code, just simply a policy that has happened that both of the boards were initially supportive of.
Regardless of what happens with the merger concept. that said, staff is suggesting that there are three options that council could consider. The first option being to join the two bodies, the composition of which would need to be reviewed at greater length for Council's consideration. This would require at least a minor update to the zoning code. As a consequence of the municipal code. Option two would be just to table the merger, but instead continue to hold joint meetings when there is a larger or more complex project to be reviewed that requires both design review and planning commission review. And then option three would be to move forward with the concept of what staff was suggesting, to make sure that especially with major planning entitlements that they go to the zone review board first. Then to the planning commission and Council, etc. So this is essentially staff support on this side with no fiscal impact. This is an informational item and that is it, unless you have any questions for staff.
Great, I'm going to jump in with a quick list and for the city attorney. So, our wonderful department head just said that they outline three different options in the staff report. So we can't do a straw poll of which of those three would like to proceed on at this point, right? There is no direction being provided tonight. You can each make your own individual comments and I'm sure staff will hear that, but there is no direction from the Council being provided.
Great, thank you. Sorry, councilmember Maurer. I saw you lean in.
Could you tell me, the length of time a typical both the meetings take and then the planning commission meetings take? How long do those typically last? Given my tenure of 2 1/2 months with the city I cannot give you a comprehensive answer but I can tell you that based on the staff report, from 3:00 p.m. just before 5:00 p.m. for the zoning review board and then the planning commission starts at 6:00 p.m. There are days when the commission might just go for an hour but other times it will go for 3 1/2 hours. It really depends on the topic.
Thank you.
Great, the Russians at this point? Looking to my right, councilmember Hinton? Do we go to the public and then do we get an opportunity to say something else after this or no? Where are we at with this?
This is just questions of staff right now and then we will go out to public comment and then we will get comments from the city Council.
Okay, great, thanks.
To my left? If you choose the table, to table the merger proposal, but instead to keep doing as practiced as if it were like to keep doing trial measures, does that, is that an option too? I'm trying to understand if what happened on the last meeting would continue to happen as like an on trial basis before any official thing was put forth.
Yes, that is the thought. In the past it has been a past president as it were that if there has been more complicated or controversial items that we wanted to make sure that both bodies saw or just planning entitlement requirements required that both bodies saw the project that we would have joint meetings.
And during those joint meetings, would there be some way to record pluses and minuses? Like to feel out if there was enough public input and things like that? I mean, is this like an informational period?
Basically we could do what we did with this last one and show the consensus comments from the two bodies and staff show the level of public attendance. unless there is some other tran20 five that they wanted staff to come forward with the suggestions.
Maybe like from the design review board itself, maybe that the commissions could just offer commenting after a period of six months?
Yes, we could do that.
Did you get any feedback from the design review board after the last joint meeting on the Barlow hotel? I noticed I attended that meeting on zoom and what I noticed is the planning commission took a vote, but the DRV did not take a vote. So I'm wondering if you got any feedback from the members on how that experience was for them, or for any of the -- you know, did you get any feedback on how that joint meeting went? The feedback was largely positive and the reason why there were formal votes versus in formal votes, meaning consensus comments, was the nature of the actions that were being considered. The planning commission, this we are talking about the Barlow hotel item, and another item on the agenda later in the evening was a joint meeting of the planning commission and the design review board. The design review board was not required to take action. They were requested to provide consensus comments to help staff when we do administrative design review using design guidelines. And the general consensus of what they would like to see in those design reviews done at the staff level. The planning commission, however, is required in reviewing the development agreement to actually take -- make findings and make a recommendation of one type or the other to the Council, and that is why there was a formal vote of one body and not the other. But it is really in nature a matter of the type of projects whether one body or not had to take a formal action and that case happen to be that one only needed to have a consensus comment versus the other body needed to actually do a formal action.
Thank you.
Council member Hinton?
I have one more question or thought of one for staff. A lot of times we rely on other jurisdictions. You brought up jurisdictions . Do you have any sense of Sonoma County jurisdictions and whether planning commissions and design review boards exist separately in the majority of cities, half the city's? All the cities? Are we special with these two boards? And could you find that information out if you don't have it? Yeah, I cannot say off the top of my head. I worked for three different -- I'm talking Sonoma County.
Sonoma County, I have worked in different capacities, Cloverdale. Sonoma, the County of - -
You know if any of those --
I'm not aware of them having a process where for example the reviews are separate. But the best answer I could suggest is I would prefer to do a survey and just see what is up currently, with the different jurisdictions and report back if that was desired.
It would be for me. I would like to know you know, what other folks do, thanks.
Great, so we have two for more information. I want to make sure I understand. It definitely seemed like when this was brought up the BRB and the planning commission was not thrilled at all with the potential merger, is that correct?
I don't know that is how I would characterize it. I would say that there were individual members that were not supportive of it. And actually, the design review board did provide consensus comments supportive of the merger. The initial review by the planning commission in February was that they were supportive of the merger subject to different makeup then the design review suggested. They did not think there would need to be as heavy an emphasis on designer participation and design professional participation. That said, with the new makeup it was determined that they were not supportive of a merger. One of the persons that -- there are two persons who contributed to the vote that provided public comment separate from the consensus comments and lips
okay. Thank you. So if I heard you correct, for option number three, which is just the process, who does and who weighs in first, you said it would not treat fire any kind of formal change, so it would not require staff time if we decided to go with that when it's calendar next week and make it so and it would not require any more staff time, is that right? As I understand it, correct.
I have a question.
Sorry.
So, is there any benefit to having the design review board go last? I mean, it was set up this way probably a long time ago for some reason. So I would like to understand what the benefit could be to have that DRB go last or if everybody else is doing it, where it goes first? I would like to understand why .
Does my question make sense? Like what is the benefit on either and and what are the drawbacks on both?
I cannot speak to the history of why the town chose to do design review last. I can tell you that, as I said, best management practice is typically to have it first and both the design review board and the planning commission, from a consensus perspective, seemed supportive of design review happening first. I can see an issue from a process perspective and let me give you a a hypothetical. The canopy project came in, large significant project in complicated and it came in and it went through planning commission and it went through city Council and it gets back to the design review board and they decide that they have real concerns about the site plan or the architecture, so they require modifications. Well, now because that site plan architecture could trigger different conditions of approval, and different public infrastructure improvement requirements, that would then have to go back all the way through the planning commission and the city Council again. And there are some projects that may be are well funded with the combination of especially affordable housing projects.
There might be a combination of nonprofit funds and federal funds and state funds that are kind of pulled together to make the project happen and those have timing associated with grants and that sort of thing. So sometimes they are time sensitive and it is not just a matter of private developers and concerns about processing the applications but other types of applications that it could complicate or even make it difficult for the project to go through.
You think it would be feasible to have the DRB review it first on a big project and then it comes back to the planning, but then it is a joint planning and DRB? Say they want notifications but they are involved because it is a big project and then it would come to the Council. At that point would need to go back to the DRB, or would it be enough? Well, this is part -- if they were to ask for a discussion on direction this is the kind of conversation we would have about what you would like to see in this type of reordering. But certainly I did not know that it had to -- let me ask the city attorney, is that something that would have to come back to the Council, or is that something that we could say we will have a good design review first, and then we could also, if it is complicated or controversial, have a go to a joint meeting after that ?
So there are a number of ways we could do it. This is not agenda used for any direction. So when it comes back next we will have heard these comments and we will have answers or thoughts on some of these items that we are hearing you raise.
I guess my question was, would that be helpful to have on big projects, to have the tran20 -- DRB look at it twice for the second time they would not get a vote but they would at least have their opinion put out there and looking at the design after they had already looked at it? Anyway, we can move on.
Okay, great. If there are no more questions of staff, now to public comment.
Thank you, Mayor.
I'm sorry.
Sorry councilmember.
I was just wondering if there could be a more clear statement of cost. You know, associated with options so like are we saving a total of $15,000 per or how many would that result in two a year, or if there is like a proposed -- the keep them separate, but then you can bind them for special projects. What is the cost-benefit, that kind of thing. And then you know, that will help us decide you know, for the subject of.
Would you like me to give an additional response to that question or just -- my notes? Alex.
Separate comment.
Okay, so back to --
We did in the staff report two of the design review board that we provided some analysis that spoke to a savings of about $15,000 per meeting. That said, it does not really help the general fund, per se. We still have to pay AV and we still have staff reports and agendas.
We would just combine them. The benefit is that it saves staff time to focus on other initiatives such as economic development. Did I misunderstand the question? I don't think you meant 50,000 lips
sorry, annual savings.
Got it.
It would be awesome if it was 15,000 per meeting.
That would be awesome.
A quick answer to the question we heard earlier about what other cities have them. Based solely on what they list on their website it looks like Sonoma and Santa Rosa have separate design review boards and planning commissions and the other six cities do not have a separate design review board.
., Any other questions before --
For those two cities, what order do they go in? Does it say? We would have to do more research. We are just seeing what they have listed on there.
Out to public comment.
Thank you, Mayor. So this is public comment for the consideration informational item on the merger of the planning commission and design review board. If you would like to make a public comment, again, it is a two and it limit. I will come to Chambers first and then go out to zoom and then back to Chambers. If there is anybody in chambers? Good evening, Paul Fritz, planning commissioner and I'm not speaking for the planning commission, just for myself. And I did send you an email outlining my thoughts. I just wanted to follow that up with some things I heard tonight that I would be opposed to just kind of just keeping a design review board and planning commission and having one meeting for all of us. I mean I see how that worked for the Barlow hotel but I would not want that to be a regular thing. I think having you know, we do kind of review different tasks and having like a combined meeting where half of the meeting is devoted to design and half to planning seems like not an efficient use of the other bodies time. We have to sit through the whole design conversation. And that is not make a whole lot of sense to me. I just wanted to put that out there and then like I said, I think there is a lot of opportunity if we're talking about design review, as a designer and a architect, the way that we practice design review is not super helpful and I think that we should take this opportunity to reconsider the whole process, not only the potential merger of the bodies, but what would be a more effective, more efficient, more you know, just a better process? As a designer we basically do the entire design and then ask for feedback. After spending potentially literally hundreds of thousands of dollars for projects like the canopy and then it is just -- anyway, I would put some of that in my email to you but I think this is an opportunity to reconsider the process and make it affect you for better design, better outcomes and make the process move more smoothly.
Thank you.
Thank you, Paul. Next I will go out to zoom. Omar, can you unmute yourself please? Thank you, can you hear us okay?
Yes, I can.
Can you see the timer?
Yes.
Go ahead with your public comment.
I am the senior program associate at generation housing. Clay I want to thank the Council for continuing to offer public comment via zoom. It makes the rents and accessibility.
Generation housing wants to encourage you guys to continue moving forward with option one, to merge the planning commission and the review board. This reflects best practices outlined in the fast and fair brief him a streamlining processes to cut costs and support housing bill -- affordability. Separating it into a separate process often adds time, and protect ability and additional costs to otherwise zoning compliant projects especially for smaller and affordable developments. Merging the bodies is smart, cost-effective, is a smart costeffective step that keeps the focus on what matters, affordability, walk ability and housing stability and then quickly about the other bodies or the other jurisdictions that have the DRB I believe it is about 50-50 currently, five of them do and five of them don't, including the county, and that is it for me, thank you.
Next I will come back into chambers. If there is anybody in chambers that would like to make a public comment on this informational item Mark seeing none, I will go back out to zoom. Robert, can you unmute yourself? Can you see the timer? I can. Great, go ahead please.
I think -- it is important to focus on what the problem is, that you are trying to solve. The original proposal -- well, originally there was a staffing study that said you need to add like 10 or 12 more to the city to do the work that staff needs to do. There is no revenue scenario that can be imagined that whatever create enough money to hire 10 more people. So your option now is, how do you reduce the amount of work that people do and make them more productive? In this proposal originally, from the city manager, was to consolidate the committees, reduce staff time, and serendipitously, we might actually make the process more efficient as Omar suggested . which is good because developers have you know, less touches with us. I think that Phil started to get to something there in terms of data. It would be helpful I think to hear how much staff time actually goes into each of these meetings individually. What are the technology costs to run two meetings and how many times does the developer have to touch the city in order to get a project from the beginning to the end? And would consolidation of the two committees improve any or all of these metrics? I think it was interesting to watch the combined committee, the Barlow project and it is the first time I have ever seen one of these so I cannot claim to be an expert, but I found it remarkable that the DRB and the planning commission had questions and a different slant but often the follow-up from that was the other committee had a similar question but a different slant. So they seem to inform each other in terms of their interest and in terms of their feelings about the project, they were actually very similar from my perspective listening to them. So I'm not sure that combining them is a disadvantage, it might be a significant advantage in terms of you know, better outcomes. struggling, there is not enough staff, there is not enough time to do stuff and people are making mistakes and sometimes you have to make the city more efficient and this is one relatively simple --
That is two minutes. thank you for your public comment, next I will come back into chambers. If there is a baby in chambers that would like to make a public comment on this informational item? Seeing none, will go back out to zoom. Everett, can you unmute yourself please?
Yes, can you hear me?
Can you see the timer?
I don't -- I don't see it, but if you can just give me a little heads up.
You bet, go ahead with your public comment.
Everett Fernandez. I am also in the planning commission and just speaking on behalf of myself. I've been on planning commission almost over 14 years. So I have seen a lot of different processes and so forth going through the city. Initially you know, it was an interesting concept and I was open to the idea of you know, does it make sense to combine the two bodies? And after more time went by I spoke to other commissioners and DRB's in the county and especially after going through the recent combination meeting, I think it is not in the best interest of the community to combine the boards and the reason is that the DRB has specific views on it which I observed and it was great that they had that focus on there. The planning commission does zoning and other things. You know, it may save some money. I'm not sure, but I think it would be a disservice to the community. Keep in mind that the planning commission is also the Parks commission. And you know, parks are being kind of ignored and so we took the initiative to say hey, you know, let's take a look at the parks and what kind of things we can do. If you combine lending commission and the signing committee as well, parks, all of those, that is four committees you know, doing the work.
You have about 30 seconds left.
Thank you. So I think we really should consider it. I mean, from the outside it might look like a good idea, but again, at what cost? Is it better for the community? I think the process certainly needs to be reviewed. I think the process can be reviewed and be better and some of the benefits that we were talking about can be realized, but keeping the two boards separate I think would be best and you know, it is something we have done and I think it has worked pretty well.
Thank you, Everett for your public comment. Next I will come back into chambers and if there is anyone in chambers that would like to make a public comment on this item. Seeing none I will go back out to zoom. If there is anybody on zoom that would like to make a public comment on this informational item, please raise your hand virtually. seeing none, public comment is closed.
Back up to the day is for discussion. well, good. Councilmember Carter? Speaking to option two again, I'm kind of interested in something that some of our speakers just mentioned, which is a bit of an iterative and learning process to figure out how we can do this better slowly and more thoughtfully. I definitely want to speed up the process and make it more efficient for everybody and capitalize on the time that we have and you know, any advantages for reducing staff time. But I'm not sure that we have come to you know, like a perfect solution at all. So I would love for some process to learn, to see what works.
And I will jump and piggyback off of that. I have heard the word process several times and I would second what councilmember Carter said. I just need to hear more from the people who are volunteering their time about what is efficient and what they define by being process, process is a very amorphous word. Also I have heard too, since I got on council that this order is messed up and that it should be flipped. As far as who hears what, because I have heard consistency or consistently that this process is not developer friendly. I'm going to state that. So I think I saw maybe -- sorry.Councilmember Hinton .
Also wanted to ask staff, a few years ago before the other four colleagues that I'm sitting up here with, we look at all the cities in the Sonoma County as well about a different way to appoint planning commissioners. And learned that at least seven other cities have an appointing system that is different from us that a planning Commissioner is connected to a councilmember. And if we were looking at a seven person body with five appointments in two generally appointed by the whole group, I would like to examine what that looks like. In many areas this planning appointment is a launchpad for running for city Council. Currently all five of us have never served on the planning commission. I think that sometimes maybe we are missing that point because that is kind of a learning ground that then helps expand knowledge when you run for city Council. So since that is a common practice when this comes back and we are reimagining it, I like to reimagine the whole thing and then you know, if we are going to turn it different, let's look at all the options and I think that is something to consider.
Councilmember Maurer?
Thank you. First up, I appreciate the opportunity to learn more about this without the pressure of having to vote. And because I think it is complicated and I have really big concerns about the effects on our small town, Sebastopol. So to me, the DRB is a first defense in protecting small-town Sebastopol. And so when we first started talking about this, I think the savings were -- I don't remember, it was $190,000 suppose it savings and then I heard it was $25,000 savings and now it is $15,000 savings. It is not really about the savings. It could be staff time savings I understand that, but it is not really saving and so my concern is more efficient at what cost? I think when you reduce the -- if you merge the two and you have 10 people right now, that is 20 eyes on projects and that is a lot of time there studying projects and putting their heart and their mind into making something better for the town. You're losing five people and 10 eyes on those projects and so that is a cost. That is a cost for our small town and for the character and the culture of Sebastopol that we love. And I think it is a disservice, like the former planning Commissioner maybe the current planning Commissioner, he said it is a disservice to the community. I do think it would be good to review the process and I would like to understand more about why the DRB is in last position right now and would it be better for them to be first, or -- and I also think what we did with the Barlow process, I think that was really successful or at least it appeared successful. You had a well-planned presentation and it was really worked through the department had done a great job getting that ready for the planning commission and then to have the joint team there working on this, I think that was really, it felt really good. I think that was a success. So when you have a bigger project to be they could be joined but I am not -- because of my concerns about wanting to protect the character and having that many volunteers and the loss of volunteers and how that could impact our care or, I would not be in support of merging, especially because the savings that is supposed to be there is not there anymore, so those are my comments, thank you.
You.
For me this is just about information tonight, so what I would like to understand better is you know, processes, efficiency and honestly I wish we had a review button that I could click and understand -- I would like to hear from the people who have gone through the processes and the challenges they have had and what they think is good, what they think is bad. I mean, truly would like to hear from the end-user there and how that is and for me that is a missing piece here for me. I really need to understand that because I think that we need to know those pain points so we can make better decisions and you know, and so to the mayor's point about developer friendly and all those types of things, so I really like a lot more information. And to hear from the people too.
Yeah, 100%. So maybe some people are shy or they do not want to give their name or their entity but do it anonymously, but just when it comes back up, paragraphs XY and Z apply at this time and they had to go through this process and then back to this process and what just did not make any sense to them at all because what I said initially, I have been told that directly, this process does not make sense and as a result it takes too long of an amount of time and it is too expensive so they take a pass. So thank you. Any other comments before we move on?
I was going to say like a flowchart, like what you are describing basically. Like how many times people have had to go back and forth and you know, what kind of delays that has created makes a sound like we are not a friendly city to bring in a new projects.
Great, seen it no more comments, we are to move on to the next agenda item, correct? That is correct.
So moving on to the next agenda.
Yeah, so -- for those that were near, yeah.
I have to recuse myself because I have been advised that with my business across the street that I need to remain out of this decision.
Thank you, vice mayor. So moving on to the public hearing, and the public hearing is agenda item number 10. This is the introduction and first reading of ordinance approving the Barlow hotel development agreement applicant has requested a development agreement to allow the development and operation of and 83 room hotel to be named the Barlow hotel at 6782 Sebastopol Avenue. The hotel would replace the existing 36,400 to square foot building at this site and would make use of the batch plant lot at 385 Morris for overflow and valet parking. The responsible department is the community development. Also to note, the project would result in beneficial the school benefits applicable to the general fund C fiscal impact section of the staff report for details. So turning it over to our wonderful community development department head.
Thank you, and good evening mayor and members of the Council.I am pleased to serve the city of Sebastopol as he could but -- community development director. Tonight's review of the item will be presented by staff team consisting of the project planner, Jane Riley, and the city attorney. And planning system is also known as EPS is the firm who the city hired to perform a peer review of the applicants analyses prepared by RRC and HVS which were a fiscal and feasibility studies. The EPS team performed their own standalone review of the project and proposed fiscal terms. They are present and able to answer questions, although they will not be doing a presentation of themselves. following staff's presentation on the project the applicant will be providing a presentation. Do you have any initial questions regarding process at this time?
I think that we are following your standard process as far as time allocation or presentation, and then unlimited time for question and answer. Is that correct, Mary? Yes, that is correct .
You know, understanding that, understanding that framework. so we are turning it over to Jim.
Good evening. Have a presentation? One moment. we will need a moment to get the presentation up on the screen.
Sorry about that. Jane Riley, project planner for this project. And when this, when this iteration of the Barlow project came and I was serving as interim community development director, and so I stuck with the project on contract with the county to get it the rest of the way through the process so we are switching horses midstream. My presentation tonight will be focused on pretty much the mechanics of the project in your review, the code requirements and then the applicant's presentation will cover most of the project itself.
Miss Riley, could you speak closer to the microphone?
Yes, thank you. Next slide, please? we are recommending approval of the Barlow hotel project. The key factors leading to our recommendation are on the slide. The project provides consistency with the general plan in zoning and provides benefits to downtown vitality and businesses and provide significant tax revenues to the city on the order of one up to $2 million per year by the fifth year of operation. next slide. again, the applicant will do a presentation on the project. I just have a couple of really quick slides, 283 rooms, groundfloor restaurant, bar, spa and meeting rooms. The ends of the building are two stories, three stories in the middle part of the site with a rooftop pool deck and covered café bar. The building itself is up to 55 feet tall when we include the elevator shaft and the covered structures we get up to 65 feet, and then the parking lot between the community market and this building will be redeveloped into adding spaces and trees as well as the drive up to the hotel. Next slide. the project also features redevelopment of the batch plant as mentioned earlier into 232 new parking spaces and some of those will be valet parking spaces and those are flexible and will be available for parking [ Inaudible ] valet. There is also a small storage building that would house the valet function on the site and then at the rear part of the site there is a lagoon overlooking promenade and a trail connection from Morris Street on the south part of the plan and a trail connection through back to the Laguna area where there is the promenade and the trail. The easterly part of the site from that red line over would be permanent easement over the Laguna. Next slide. Velvet agreements are a contract between property owner in the city. They have to be consistent with the general plan and the uses allowed by zoning and they establish the terms for the development of the property and they can establish pretty much anything. They provide the site-specific standards where that property is in agreement and they do not affect any of the other properties in the city. State law authorizes the use of development agreements to establish standards for virtually every aspect of the development including but not limited to the things on this slide. I want to point out permitted uses in operating standards, mitigation measures and conditions of approval.
The amount and payment schedule of any impact fees and procedures for subsequent reviews. next slide. this slide is a repeat of table 1 in the staff report . the different project components and the typical approval process are on the slide for each component. Typically the level of review would be planning commission or a design review with this -- all of it wrapped up in the development agreement in this case. So the city Council is the approval authority for the entire project because you would be the approval authority on the development agreement once it has been recommended to you by the planning commission, which it has been. there are many goals, general plan goals and policies applicable to the proposal including land-use circulation, community services and facilities, conservation and open-space community design and economic vitality. I have provided a short list on this slide. There is a complete consistency analysis attachment to your staff report. We have goals of encouraging economic development, emphasizing Sebastopol as a tourism hub and then encouraging amenities including hotels, increasing visitation spending and tourism, and then finally providing attention to the Laguna and the open space and natural resources as a tourist destination. section 51583 mandates that when a proposed project is consistent and has been studied in an EIR that has been certified like the general plan has, additional review has to be limited. We cannot and did requested and received additional numerous studies to look at potential sitespecific impacts including those listed on the slide.Staff has determined that the CEQA documentation was appropriate for the project . it of element agreement also needs to be consistent with the uses allowed by the zoning code. Each of the proposed uses allowed by the zoning code and the DA ordinance includes all of the required findings for those uses.
Because the development agreement is an ordinance it can set its own standard for things like height, as requested in this case. developed agreement and project review by the planning commission and design review board, which was discussed on March 25th, with comments and recommendations from the design review board reflected on this slide. There is also a write up of member comments attached to the staff report. the design review board determined that the project was consistent with the city's established design guidelines and that the materials and details were successful at providing good design on-site and that tree number one should be removed. There were a number of comments provided and those are attached to the staff report and there is a public comment that her as well. Recommendations were that while it is appropriate to treat the buildings different façades differently, they do need to pay more attention to the Sebastopol Avenue façade and the recommendations about considering use of a different material for a large expanse of the façade as well as tree sizes and species. next slide. The planning commission made findings and recommended approval of the 401 vote in the complement of the applicant on the design of the hotel site and parking lot recognizing the difficulty of this site and they agreed with the design review board with regard to the Sebastopol Avenue façade. The recommendations are to upgrade the Sebastopol Avenue site to provide a better pedestrian experience, to ensure public access to the Laguna day Santa Rosa remains open even when the parking lot is close to vehicles, and staff is adding conditions of approval to ensure those two recommendations are met. The third was that the city applicant and private property owner should work together on accessibility between the hotel and being Street. We did not write a condition for that. We cannot impose conditions on private property owners. but the applicant is dedicated and has agreed to do that. there are six findings that they will need to make as shown on this slide.
We have talked about these consistent with the general plan with zoning, conformity with public convenience and general welfare, not detrimental to public health, safety and welfare and will not adversely affect the property and will provide sufficient benefit to the city to justify entering into the agreement. Processing the impact fees are one time fees and the cost to process entitlements while impact fees pay for the proportionate impact of city services.
Under staff's recommendation, the applicant would pay about $934 in combined processing and impact fees. These fees are typically payable at the time of building are met issuance, however, the development agreement allows the city Council to make them payable over time. The applicant has requested that they be allowed to pay the impact fee portion over a five-year period beginning when the hotel opens for business and staff supports that request.
The city Council also has authority under the developed agreement to provide further fee reductions which have been recently requested by the applicant, and the city attorney has prepared a memo outlining the recommendations if the city Council does want to provide additional relief. there are a number of fiscal analyses including one by RRC Associates commissioned by the applicants in the planning systems or EPS commission by the city. EPS studies are much more conservative figures than did the RRC study in terms of occupancy rate and so on. And we ended up with annual estimates that vary widely but we can conclude that the project will bring in between one and 2 million annually per year after the first five years of operation the EPS consultant is available over zoom tonight if you should have questions on that analysis. In my last slide is just the next steps. Tonight we are introducing waving the first reading and hearing from the community. I believe May fifth is the scheduled vote on this. It takes 30 days for an ordinance to become effective after adoption.
We will then enter into the development agreement. I want to point out that there is annual reporting required and then the applicant will prepare and submit the construction documents and will perform the administrative staff level reviews. Permits will be issued and construction will commence with inspections and finally the hotel opens and the applicant will provide details on when those things are actually expected to take place. That concludes my staff report and I'm here for westerns.
And so I think May sixth is the time we are coming back .
Thank you. May sixth.
I want to make sure everyone is aware of that and then when this was presented, I think Alex, you had a component to present as well?
It got covered.If council has any questions.
I'm going to open it up to my colleagues for westerns. Councilmember Carter? Because I am me and the climate person, I'm just kind of curious how you might heat or cook, like will that be with gas or is it primarily electric? The applicant has a presentation to give, so should we do the applicant presentation and then open it up?
That might make sense.
Sorry.
The applicant presentation and that is within the regular time allotment. Is that right? Yes. They were going to do it in 10 minutes.
It was explained through Miss Riley for everyone. So with that, let's hear from the applicant.
We are just loading the applicant's presentation.
Thank you.
thumb and everything else, but are work in on it.
Thank you, that is perfect. Is it okay if I just call slide? Okay. My name is Ian Murphy, the principal and owner of BDP architecture and I'm representing Baldridge development and to present the project to you. We are thrilled and excited to be at this point and very grateful to staff who have been an amazing help and guide along this whole process. Thank you very much. You know, we are joined here today with most of our development team. So if there are any questions, hopefully we can answer anything that you may be interested about the project. And with that, if we could progress to the next slide. So I want to take a second to remind everyone briefly kind of the process that we have been through up to this point.
Between 22 and 24, as I mentioned, we have met numerous times to talk about all the various zoning issues, design issues and flood mitigation issues associated with the project to get to the design that we have today. We held a community meeting in March of 2023 to talk about the economic benefits of the hotel, which we will get into in more detail in a second and described by staff and in 2024 we had the initial planning application submittal. And then in August of 2024 we resubmitted our revised design based on the input that we got. And had a significant design change at that point. In March of 2025 we got our commission, planning commission, combined design review board meeting and tonight we are here, hopefully to present to you and get approval to move forward. next slide, please. so in addition to the tax benefits mentioned by staff, our own estimates are that the project will have $31.4 million in guest spending. $23.4 million of this is expected to occur in Sebastopol and an additional 8 million in Sonoma County and that would generate $8.9 million in labor income and support 210 jobs. for the city of Sebastopol, this would generate approximately $1.5 million in annual transient occupancy taxes and $330,000 in sales taxes as well as added property taxes. This is the estimate that was discussed in staff's report . next slide, please. we got a number of good comments in the designed review commission the most prominent of which they should continue to address the Sebastopol Avenue façade and we are working closely with staff and internally to make updates to make it more of a front door and more of a primary façade. We don't want it to feel like the back of the building. We really want to address the street and make it feel activated. So we have talked about how to make it more welcoming to the rest of the city. It was discussed that it can be a simple façade, but again that should not feel like the back of the building. Better integration of any railings or entry elements such as the RAM currently located on that side of the building. We are looking into ways to potentially remove that ramp which would greatly improve the street frontage and the openness along the sidewalk . quite a few things we are hoping to do to improve that frontage. We are also we have been asked to work with the relevant property owners to make a better connection to downtown. So there are frontages outside the scope of this project that could be greatly improved to connect Barlow Hotel to the rest of downtown and Main Street. we were also, as staff mentioned, looked looking at alternate would products and we are asked -- exploring non-wood looking products and studying all of those ownership group is very aware of the maintenance associated and is prepared to commit to that of that is the direction that we proceed with. we are looking into stone material that is most similar to the pop monk building which is a 100+-year-old historic building here in Sebastopol, so we are choosing a stone that is compatible. Not a duplicate. We are not looking to make it exact but something that looks in keeping with that historic stone. We have been asked to remove the archway on McKinley Avenue, so we are squaring that off to the internal public plaza and we have been asked to raise the storefront sills on McKinley which currently come all the way to the street frontage, and so there was a comment about being more in keeping with some of the historic architecture here in Sebastopol and raising that up, and that is what we are looking to do with the design as well. And we have been asked to look at more public accessibility options for the Laguna Overlook batch plant area which we will look at in more detail in a second. Next slide, please. we just have a large overview here for anyone not available with the relationship to the project . the project is in the center of the screen. This is the hotel, and the current yerba maté building adjacent to the left-hand side there on the far end of the site . next slide. this is a blown up plan depicting the first floor of the hotel. We have restaurant and retail space flanking McKinley Avenue, that is a continuation of the retail core that we see in the Barlow. We have a connection to a public plaza that connects McKinley as well as a main the Plaza entry against the parking lot that faces the community market that becomes sort of a nexus and a hub for the public to process the site and the lobby is inside of that public plaza and that would be the main entry point to the hotel. Once inside the hotel we have a large grand meeting room as well as smaller conference room and a series of other smaller central courtyards that could be used for private gatherings or other uses within the hotel. we then have more amenities facing Sebastopol Avenue that would activate that frontage facing the street there. next slide. this is the same plan, but taken from the roof deck elevation. So we have an expensive roof deck for guests in the pool area and then other areas that would be open for the public to look and have gatherings. It is a large roof deck given the size of the project and we think it is a huge benefit for this type of project. next slide, please. this is a photorealistic rendering taken from across the way at the pizza place adjacent to the community market looking back at the main entry to the public plaza with the grand arch. He would go through that arch, and on your left would be the lobby and on the right would be the retail and restaurant spaces. Kind of a respite from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the Barlow, hopefully. The structure you see on the far right-hand side would be the retail that kind of holds and activates the corner. We have a combination of the stone mentioned earlier in the button that holds the base in the center of the building and then some modern square form corrugated metal that has a relationship to a lot of the other industrial uses already at the Barlow. Next slide, please. here is some more photos of what those materials would look like and more detail, much the same of what I just described. Small light windows to further reference that industrial style. Next slide. moving to the batch plant, I think it is important to show quickly what the state of that property is in right now. It is a very much underutilized site that is ripe for development. We think this is a huge public benefit to have parking in that area, and you know, it will be a major benefit to the community over what it is now. Next slide, please. this is our landscape rendition of what that parking lot will look like. You can imagine that you know, a third of this roughly will be for ballet and another third for people working at the Barlow and another third for people parking using the Barlow for other uses nearby. On the far right-hand side we have our Laguna Overlook in public improvement area and there will be a series of benches and seating areas and informational signage that gets built into that area as part of this agreement, part of the project. We have a couple sections through that parking lot, just kind of describing how the planting plan really offers the view of the parking lot. So it is not a big open concrete or pavement pad. It is really quite a bit of landscape and bio swells integrated into the design to make it more aesthetically pleasing. Next slide. and another section cutting across the other direction. You can see the rate changes across the site. next slide, please. we do have one small structure within the batch plant that utilizes a corrugated material that we are used to seeing in much of the Barlow today that will be used for storage, maintenance and other utility uses. Next slide. and we have I think one or two renderings now of what that overlook will look like . some really conceptual ideas of what the signage might be back into the landscaped area at some of the benches and bike parking and other public use items that will be there. I can imagine a lot of people getting food at the Barlow, coming here, eating lunch, take in a minute, I think it will be a well used spot. Next slide. next slide. There we go. All right. The last one is the same. Okay, great, thank you. I am sorry, any other part of the presentation that can be scheduled by anyone before we get into Council questions? Okay. Sorry, councilmember Carter. I jumped ahead, so your question was lips
when I was reading through the environmental bit it said that you are going to use the existing natural gas, but there was not more coming on but I cannot really discern what type of heating you might use in this facility.
We do intend to keep gas to the site as it is today and we intend to use gas for the cooking purposes for the restaurant and hotel.
How about for heating?
Potentially for hot water. We're not sure yet in terms of the hot water heating system.
Okay. If you want ideas about that the climate action committee is really willing to help you look for some options that are equally affordable. But just in general, like before I get ahead of myself, thank you. I think this is a cool project and it is super fun. I love that it is a rooftop and inclusive to the community. The addition of the -- the bit around the Laguna is super fun and I hope that we can somehow include that and other trails that make this a bit of a biking destination so that when people come to the hotel they have some other way to it exercise and something to do and that is on the city but anyway, I appreciate the effort you put into listening to the design team about the frontage and the brick as well, so think you.
Thank you. So I was wanting to know more about -- you said that you have considered changes to that Sebastopol side, and I wanted to hear more about what are the changes that you are thinking about?
Sure. I think the biggest change that we are trying to that out and we would love to come tonight and be 100% sure, but we are almost there is, can we remove that accessible ramp and provide other means of accessible access through the building to that area? If we can do that it gives us a lot of room to both landscape, widen the sidewalk and have more you know, welcoming entry and looking at expanding glazing and changing the awning approach. We have some awnings already with something that is maybe you know, little bit more than what we have now. I think that those are the main strategies that we are looking at implementing.
And also signage is something that we would incorporate.
It sounds good because you have a lot of traffic coming there must so you could make use of that to drop people in. And maybe even some artwork that you might consider if there is room. But widening the sidewalk would be a good idea. So Mayor, I have a couple. So do you want to just -- you know --
Maybe a couple, councilmember Hinton and I have a couple too. We will keep going back and forth.
Okay, sure. Okay. Well, we will round Robin here. Thanks for the project. Well, so, yeah.
I have a couple too, but let's start with since you talked about parking and I read that there is valet spots, but then are all the self parking people just going to pull their luggage and walk past the crooked goat and come up to the hotel? Is that the plan, or will there be a shuttle for the self Parkers? What is your concept there ?
We have a few spots in front of the hotel where people could theoretically drop off luggage but the intent is for the majority to be instructed to use the valet and to have that be how it functions.
And yes, I also want to thank you. I want to thank everyone for their time and presenting everything, so we will start with that. The connection, because this is something that I think will help overall the community, but I have heard that the Barlow is not the city, and it is not the downtown. So I have brought this up early on and the fact that I would like to see more connection. The directional signs are great. They are small, if you're not looking at it you won't even know what they are supposed to say, as into need to find more things? So I just want to find out from you what is your overall thoughts about how you are going to connect the Barlow to the downtown, because I'm definitely a big proponent that if downtown fails, then the city fails. We cannot be the Barlow and the Barlow alone. Whoever wants to feel that.
Hi, thanks everybody. I am with you, downtown is failing and main street is failing.
Highway 116 is five lanes right through the center of the city and it is really affect being the downtown core and Main Street. There is a study being done and the city has contracted for that study and I believe the study will show that the fix is one thing and it is expensive and it is easy and it is to turn Main Street into two ways. Until you make MainStreet two ways and you stop the 116 tread, there will be a very difficult situation that will continue. We cannot fix it from the Barlow. We cannot fix the lack of pedestrian access and the lack of parking access and the slow-moving things that make downtowns vibrant. We cannot fix that, but you guys can fix it, and I will help to get Sebastopol to go both ways on Main Street. I'm convinced that is the key. We can put in the sidewalks to connect to the square, but right now you just have a difficult situation there and it is an easy fix.
Thank you for that. So that is your overall concept about how to use the Barlow and the people you are trying to attract to also help businesses on Main Street. Am I hearing you correct that the answer is for us to fix it from going one direction? You cannot access MainStreet. You come into town and we are bringing a lot of people to town, but MainStreet kicks them out of town. So that is the problem. That is why there is not cohesiveness and that is why the people are not moving back and forth from the two areas.
Okay, so I will save the rest of my comments on that but I want to field other missions on that. Councilmember Carter? And then --
I only want to speak to this because you did mention sidewalks as a connect there. So when this project comes out and this kind of speaks to what were saying, I don't think you meant only for us to fix the connection downtown.
We thinking about the size of the sidewalk in front of their? There seems to be this lot that does not have a lot of anything and then another in front of the coffee shop. He might not be able to do anything about those, but I'm wondering about making that sidewalk look more pleasant as it gets to the square. Does that have anything to do with the Barlow? We do not own those parcels. If we could get permission from the people who do own those parcels, and there are only three of them and you only need really one to make the first connection and that is the family that owns the theater, right? You know, I would be happy to split the cost with them. I would love for that sidewalk to connect, but it is not our property.
I keep hearing that there is a breakdown on Main Street and somehow that the Barlow is responsible for it and the breakdown on Main Street, we cannot fix that, but we can all fix it putting the streets back. that is all that I'm saying. If you really want to fix that, to me that is an easy problem and it is not cost a lot to re-stripe it and make it a two way street like most successful towns. There are literally five lanes of 116 trampling through the town and everyone is wondering why MainStreet is suffering. I'm telling you, it is very simple.
I have a two part question, okay? In terms of the parking lot on your map, it looks like you are taking part of Laguna for part of the parking lot. I just want to double check, are you adding concrete to places where there isn't any, or removing concrete where there is concrete?
We have a civil engineer that has the previous area. give us a moment.
I think that there are areas that probably are unimproved dirt lots that are going to get pavement and there are areas that will be pavement that will be bio swells and pavement. So it is a bit of both.
Yes, yes. So --
I'm sorry, we are going to have to go up to the microphone because there are people listening on Zoom. So however this is going to go, they need to speak into the microphone.
I guess I'm looking at on your PDF, it is number five, because it shows an orange square around the batch parking lot, and it shows you know, maybe almost a quarter of that is the Laguna.
Yes, so the whole Laguna area is being kept as is. The area that you can see kind of green there is largely still green and untouched.
Thank you. I'm very relieved. Good. Okay, so then the second part of my question is related to -- it is slide number 15 where you have the benches and the promenade. There is another slide that you have a really beautiful visual on that. I mean, your work is very beautiful. Thank you. It is excellent. But so, let's see. so it is slide 11, and then also that is slide 15. And so it looks to me like the promenade is kind of part of the road through the parking lot. And I am wondering, because I see there are benches there, like if you are sitting there it is not going to be that comfortable if cars are driving through there, parking and moving. You know, it is not like someplace maybe you might not be comfortable going and having. Is there anything done to create the area to have those benches without cars and where you can have the walk without the cars?
One thing I would point to if you go to the plan perfect, is that I think that viewpoint is taken largely from the lower right-hand corner which has pulled away from the cars and buffered by some trees.
So like maybe it is like -- 1/8 of the road there that would be -- benches and stuff? There is an overlook area that has informational signage and the benches and then there would be additional benches in the green area, which is sort of the bulb in the center. So it is a use of planting to make the space habitable and enjoyable. And then we have tried to be conscious with that and pull an area of this away from the car area. That is definitely part of the intent.
Can you point to where the area is away from cars? Okay. okay. So about how big of an area is that?
It is an odd shape but I don't know, about 50 by 50?
Okay, nice. Okay, thank you.
Anywhere there are benches you are not going to see a bench and cars. The benches will be in the pedestrian areas.
I just want to address -- being part of the community, so do you have a plan yet for community meeting space and a program for nonprofits to use your event spaces may be for free? I recall that with the last hotel project and they dedicated a certain number. So you were not coming to big really but there was a certain number of days that were offered to local nonprofits for event space that you might hosting your meeting rooms. So I would like to see that. And if it is not formalized, would like something submitted that is more formal so that people could sign up and not always feel like they are like a yes or a no, but maybe there would be certain days, we days that you would not be busy on other days or something like that. I'm also curious about day passes. It will be an expensive hotel. If we live here we will maybe eat in the restaurant but we will not stay there, get to use the great pool upstairs. Are you thinking about having day passes and locals promotions so that locals could come in? I know they do that a lot in the city of Sonoma with locals, with offers and spas and different things. But other venues, that would be great to be able to buy that pass and then come hang out. Is that in the works?
I think integrating the hotel and being an asset for the community members is an important part of this, and I think you know, we have a hotel operating company. We don't operate hotel so it is hard for me to say anything other than I think it is a priority. I think it is important. The only thing I know that I can say is that the spot, which is pretty significant is open to the public on a day pass basis. The rooftop restaurant and bar up there is open to the public in the courtyard is. In terms of the meeting room availability, it is hard for me to say, but other than I think we have always tried to accommodate meetings for nonprofits and more community involvement in the Barlow in general. We encourage that and try to make it happen.
So I'm going to follow-up on a question from councilmember Carter. When do you anticipate making decisions about the energy that you are going to be using on the site? Because I heard a lot of natural gas. You probably heard earlier tonight we are trying to tap into resources from the regional partners. So Sonoma clean power would be one to consider alternatives to gas, electricity, solar, batteries, all of that. When do you anticipate make any decision about the exact energy that you're going to use on site ? We anticipate, assuming we get through the process in the near future, that we would be developing with the chemical electrical plumbing engineers in the title 24 analysts that analyze energy usage for the building and other grain specialists. All of that would probably happen over the next -- most of those decisions at least come over the next four or six months if not sooner. And I'm sure that we would love to get input from any group that you know, could aid in that.
We have quite a solar array on that hotel.
Okay, great. Further questions?
In terms of the signage, I wonder if you could tell us a little bit more about the signage. And I had a Russian specifically I wanted to know if you had talked with the Laguna foundation about -- they have signage, and maybe there could be some working with them to create some signage that would recognize the indigenous population that lived here and some of the history of the Laguna and I wanted to know if you had considered that.
Yeah, we have talked about working with them. I'm not sure what the outreach has been yet but the intent would be that the signage, that would be a big part of -- I saw a friendly face.
We did work with the Laguna foundation and we are working to design the interpretive signage at the overlook, but then also at the bio retention areas, just talking about the different types of plants we are using for storm runoff. So we are absolutely working with them on all things Laguna, which we really like and we have talked to them about selecting certain plants for the hotel itself. I think we are still working through the branding of it. How it works with the rest of the Barlow. I cannot speak to like the type of signage coming in on Highway 12.
We are still working through, but at the batch plant the whole idea is to celebrate the Laguna.
They had to push it until after this meeting.
That is awesome. And I think that possibly those types of signage could be part of the art and loop? You have a certain amount of art that you need to provide for the community, so maybe the signs could be part of that. And I would like to know your thoughts on the art that you are going to provide. Have you considered that at all or thought about what you might put their? Before you say something, I just wanted to give a plug for you know, Charles Scholz lived here in Sebastopol and we don't have any recognition of Charles Scholz. And I was told this story where he would come to what is now the toy store and he would hang out there. I mean, this is just really near you. So maybe. This is just my little wish. If there is some risk mission of maybe a happy Snoopy or -- anyway. Just wanting to know your thoughts on that.
We have not considered him specifically as the subject matter but the idea of incorporating is one that we should consider more. We are leaning now likely in front of the Plaza area, most of the entry on the main retail hub but we have also considered locations on the bench plan.
Having that is something we are interested in the water element or that'll element.
It would be good to work with the public art committee on that and get ideas and even the Sebastopol Center for the arts. And maybe even local art.
Thank you.
Piggybacking on councilmember Maurer's mention of the indigenous people and the fact that we are on unseated territory here. So what are your concrete plans for reaching out to the respective tribes? And trying to figure out what they would like to see by way of recognition, whether it be a plaque, land, rededicated back to them, what are your thoughts? What are your plans, I guess I should be more clear.
We don't have any plans in that regard.
Okay, would you be open to entertaining those? Because that is a goal. I don't know, for those who are maybe did not sit there that long, goal setting, that did rise to the top, and so I'm asking the questions to help staff because staff is contemplating all of our goals to bring it back with the action plan, so I'm trying to help them.
I think that we would love to hear from anything relative to this area, specifically more street where the Barlow is. You know, any of the land that we are working on. If there is a historical connection to a tribe, or just people. We have been easily connected to the use as the Barlow plant and we have connected quite closely to that historical use. There are other uses that predate that. You know, people are involved in and have evidence of. We would love to hear from them. I think Stan connected to our roots is super important and we are very open to working with any found roots that are here.
Great. Additional questions? Yes?
So the Laguna foundation can help with that also. So I'm wondering about, in the Barlow right now you have a wonderful assortment of fruit trees and vegetables and I have gotten some --
Thank you for noticing.
You need to speak into the microphone.
Thank you for noticing.
People on Zoom cannot hear you. But, so what are your ideas on the trees that you will be adding? Are you looking at adding fruits or vegetables, and to make it continuous throughout the Barlow?
Yeah. I think what we recognized when we started planning this from a landscape selection standpoint is that we would have to do something that is going to be maintenance compatible with the hotel use, so we are looking at what we could use that aesthetically is compatible with what we use elsewhere in the Barlow that does not come with those downsides. So we are open to it. We are trying to create something that will work for the management on the property like this.
In cycling back to some of the original questions. When do you anticipate providing information about fixing the side as far as the not natural wood but some other form of wood? I heard you talk about the ramps and potential artwork because yes, that is what I have been receiving comments on and the fact that it looks like the side of the building coming in on Sebastopol. So when specifically to staff about what you're going to do on that? I think we would anticipate getting something to staff within the next month or two at the maximum. I mean, we want to get a good early -- you know, we don't want to come into them right for permit.
We would love to remove that ramp.[ Transitioning Captioners ] SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK ABOUT US. HOW HAS YOUR PROCESS
BEEN AS WE CONSIDER MERGING THE DESIGNER BOARD AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT? I THINK we are open to feedback too. Working with the city in the last 12 or 14 months, it has been far better than it was and it was very difficult and we tried to bring this project years ago and were pushed away. The current state of the city.
Great to hear. As a follow-up, that was because that was in on the city TIME AND IT'S BECAUSE YOU OFFERED THAT AND COVERED THAT?
WE WOULD HAVE ALWAYS HAD TO PAY STAFF TIME AND IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN THE CASE A FEW YEARS AGO WHICH IT IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CREW AND THAT WAS NO FUN.
APPRECIATE THE HONESTY.
IT IS EFFECTIVE AND SMART.
IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO HEAR AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR OTHER
DEVELOPERS COMING INTO IT THAT EVEN IF THEY FRONT THE MONEY OR
STAFF TIME AND MEETING IT WON'T RESOLVE AND IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT HAS TO BE A WASTE. THINGS ARE GOOD.
THANK YOU. GOOD. IT STARTS AT THE TOP. THANK YOU GUYS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
WE SENT A LETTER REGARDING SOME OF THESE YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE US PAY THE $69,000. I DID HAVE A QUESTION ON YOUR TRASH RECYCLE BINS BECAUSE HE SAID THE COST $3500 EACH. THE CITY IS RIGHT NOW INVOLVED IN GETTING TRASH AND RECYCLE BINS AND THEY GOT THEM FOR $1100. IT IS CERTAINLY A DIFFERENCE IN COST. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THEY WOULD BE THREE TIMES AS MUCH?
THESE WERE THE BENCHES WHICH COULD BE A DIFFERENT STEP BUT THIS
WAS THE INSTALL COST WE GOT AND THE BENCHES, TABLES AND TRASH RECEPTACLES.
WHAT YOU MEAN BY KEYSTONE?
THAT IS THE MANUFACTURER, THAT TYPE WE ARE GETTING.
I'M TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE TRASH.
I THINK IT WAS ALL THE SAME BRAND AND KEYSTONE WITH THE
MANUFACTURER SO CHECKING WHAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS THAT YOU ARE GETTING PRICING ON.
DOES THE STAFF HAVE A COMMENT ON THE DIFFERENCE IN PRICE?
I DON'T KNOW WHO THE MANUFACTURER IS BUT AS WE WERE LOOKING FOR THE DOWNTOWN CONTAINERS WE HAD A PRICE OF 1100 TO 1200. I DON'T
KNOW WHAT KIND OF RECEPTACLES YOU HAD VERSUS THE ONE YOU HAD AND WE ARE WORKING TO SEE.
MAYBE WE CAN SEE WHAT BRAND IS ACCEPTABLE AND GO WITH THOSE.
ABSOLUTELY. I AM JUST DOING A TIME CHECK AND DOES ANYBODY NEED A BREAK?
WE ARE DONE WITH QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU. THIS IS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE HOTEL BARLOW
DEVELOPMENT FOR THE HOTEL AND THE INTRODUCTION OF THE
ORDINANCE. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, IT IS TWO MINUTES. THEY GO OUT TO ZOOM. I WILL ASK FOR CHAMBERS IF THERE IS ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT. THEN I WILL GO OUT TO JIM AND COME BACK.
HELLO. LISA PIERCE. I LIKE THE WAY THE NEW HOTEL LOOKS VERY MUCH. I
JUST WANTED TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT PHILIP CARTER WAS SAYING ABOUT
HOW REALLY WE SHOULD BE HAVING ELECTRIC HEAT PUMPS FOR HEATING AND COOLING AND ALSO FOR HOT WATER. ONE THING I HAVE NOTICED IS THAT BARLOW HAS QUITE A FEW OF THESE GAS OUTDOOR HEATERS GOING.
SOMETIMES WHEN NOBODY IS AROUND. THESE ARE BELCHING METHANE AND CLIMATE WISE THEY ARE TERRIBLE. I AM NOT SAYING WE SHOULDN'T HAVE OUTDOOR HEATERS. BUT THE KINDS THAT I SEE HAVE THE CLEAR CYLINDER AND REALLY DON'T PROVIDE MUCH EAT. SOMETIMES THERE JUST GOING AND NOBODY EVEN ENJOYING THEM. I AM WONDERING ABOUT THE PAVING, IF IT IS PERMEABLE FOR THE PARKING. WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE ABOUT IS THAT WE AREN'T LOOKING AT THE FLOODING PROBLEM AND
THE BARLOW WORSE BY CREATING SURFACE WATER WHERE THE WATER CAN'T BE ABSORBED INTO THE SOIL. ONE MORE COMMENT ABOUT THE FLOODING. WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ELEVATION DRAWINGS AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE FLOOR LEVEL IS KIND OF LOW. THE FLOODING THAT WE HAVE
EXPERIENCED SINCE THIS HAS BEEN BUILT HAS NOT BEEN BY ANY STRETCH THE WORST FLOODING WE HAD. AND THE WATER GOT MUCH HIGHER. IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF THE BUILDING WAS DAMAGED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL GO TO ZOOM.
MY NAME IS EMILY LYNCH, ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE ACORN, WHICH IS INSIDE THE BARLOW ON McKINLEY STREET. WE ARE SO EXCITED AT THE IDEA THERE COULD BE A HOTEL. WE SEE LOCALS AND VISITORS FROM OUT OF THE AREA. HAVING A PLACE FOR VISITORS TO STAY AND SUPPORT OUR AREA WITH THE BUSINESSES IN OUR AREA IT WOULD BE A VALUE ADD. I ALSO AM A NATIVE OF TRAN ONE AND WE USED TO HAVE -- SEBASTOPOL. WE
WANT VISITORS TO NOT JUST STAY IN THE BARLOW BUT EXPLORATORY WORKS WHICH IS A TOY STORE I WENT TO. THERE ARE LONG-ESTABLISHED BUSINESSES THERE. EVEN THOUGH THE SIDEWALK COULD BE IMPROVED, I
WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE FACT THAT THERE ISN'T A HARD LINE BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND THE BARLOW. WE FIND IT FLUID WHERE OUR SHOP IS.
PEOPLE ARE COMING IN AND GOING OUT ESPECIALLY ON THE FARMERS
MARKET DAYS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE PARK THERE AND WALK OVER TO THE MARKET. FROM MY POINT OF VIEW ON McKINLEY STREET, THERE AREN'T TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES BUT WE ARE ONE WALKABLE AREA. THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS AND GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM.
HELLO. I AM CHAIR THE PUBLIC'S ARTS COMMITTEE FOR SEBASTOPOL.
REGARDING THE TREATMENT OF THE BARLOW HOTEL ON THE FAÇADE. THE
PUBLIC ARTS COMMITTEE ENCOURAGES MORE THAN JUST A SIMPLE TREATMENT TO THIS VERY PUBLIC SIDE OF THE BUILDING. BUT THE PUBLIC
ARTS COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO WORK REALLY HARD TO INSTALLING A MAJOR PIECE ON EACH OF THE ENTRANCES TO TOWN. BRIEFLY ON THE WESTSIDE, MICHAEL McGINNIS WITH THE PUBLIC LIBRARY WALL ON THE SOUTH. AND HEREBY BRUCE JOHNSON. ON THE EAST, THE SEBASTOPOL SPIRE
WHICH WENT THROUGH SEVERAL ITERATIONS BECAUSE AS YOU WILL KNOW
SEBASTOPOL BEING A SMALL TOWN WITH MAJOR HIGHWAYS HAS VERY
LITTLE ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC SITES THAT AREN'T UNDER THE PURVIEW OF
CALTRANS WHO AS YOU HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE WITH HAS HAD
RESTRICTIVE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR ANY KIND OF ART NEAR THE ROADWAYS AND HIGHWAYS. ANYWAY. SO THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL AS IT IS AND THAT OPENING WILL BE ON MAY THREE. WE ARE INVITING INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATIVES TO THAT BY THE WAY. AND IT IS NO LONGER IN A VERY
PUBLIC PLACE AND NOW OFF TO THE SIDE OF SEBASTOPOL AVENUE NEAR THE BRIDGE.
YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS.
SO WE SEE, THE PUBLIC ARTS COMMUNITY SEES YOUR HOTEL FAÇADE AS
AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO PUT SOMETHING THERE AND FIRSTLY WE
WOULD RECOMMEND SOMETHING THREE-DIMENSIONAL LIKE A WALL SCRIPTURE OR MAYBE [ INAUDIBLE ] AND IF NOT THAT AND SOMETHING
TWO-DIMENSIONAL FOR EXAMPLE SOME KIND OF MURAL OR SOMETHING
THAT WOULD BE VERY VISIBLE AND BEAUTIFUL TO PEOPLE ENTERING TOWN FROM THE EAST AND WEST AS WELL. I DID SEND A LETTER AND WITH MORE
OF THE COMMON SO HOPEFULLY YOU WILL GET THAT AND TO GIVE YOU A SPIRE HANDBILL.
THAT HAVE TO GO THROUGH MARY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL THROW IT BACK OUT TO ZOOM. IF THERE IS ANYBODY ON ZOOM TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY. SEEING NONE, WE WILL COME BACK TO THE CHAMBERS.
MY CONSIDERATION IS ENVIRONMENTAL AND THE COMMENTS ABOUT THE FLOODING ARE SIGNIFICANT. IT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED OR WE ARE IN TROUBLE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS SOLAR PANELS. AND ALSO THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT [ INAUDIBLE ] AND I THINK SEBASTOPOL DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF EXTRA WATER AND THAT MAKES IT [ INAUDIBLE ] AS WELL INSTEAD OF GAS UTILIZATION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. IF THERE IS ANYONE ON ZOOM
THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY. SEEING NONE, WE WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS.
HELLO, STEVE PIERCE. I WANT TO FOLLOW-UP IN REALLY TRYING TO
ELIMINATE OR MINIMIZE NATURAL GASES AT THE SITE AND ALSO THE
FLOODING CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE ALL SEEN IN THE BARLOW AND WHAT
THE STORY WAS AND ONE OF THE WORST FLOODS WERE PEOPLE WERE
FISHING NEAR THE CINEMA SO IT DOES GET PRETTY HIGH, MUCH HIGHER
THAN WHAT WE SAW IN PREVIOUS FLOODING BUT I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT WE PUT A LOT OF EGGS IN THIS BASKET HERE FOR THE HOTELS.
IT IS REALLY A QUESTION, CAN SEBASTOPOL SUPPORT A $500 PLUS PER NIGHT HOTEL. THE HOTEL SEBASTOPOL FINANCING PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THEIR DOUBTS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. CAN WE SUPPORT IT. IT IS REALLY ENTIRELY AT RISK OF THE DEVELOPER TO DO THAT. I WOULD
REALLY HOPE THAT THE CITY WOULD LOOK FORWARD AND SAY, IF IT CAN'T
WORK AS AN EXPENSIVE HOTEL IN SEBASTOPOL, HOW CAN WE TRANSITION A PROPERTY TO RESIDENTIAL USE? I WOULD ASK THE DEVELOPERS TO THINK
AHEAD FOR MAYBE PLUMBING OR ELECTRICAL, BUT IF WE HAVE TO AT
SOME POINT, IF YOU CAN'T DROP YOUR RATES ENOUGH AND STILL MAKE IT WORK, HOW CAN WE MOVE IT TO A DIFFERENT USE? WE HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE IN SEBASTOPOL. WE NEED TO THINK AHEAD.
YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS.
200 -- TWO HOTELS WITH 500+ A NIGHT? HOW MUCH OF A MARKET IS THERE? THE CONSULTANTS WOULD SAY THAT BUT WE DON'T KNOW. THANK YOU.
THINK YOU. CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF PLEASE SECOND YOU HEAR ME? I CAN. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
I CAN'T. BUT I WON'T BE TWO MINUTES.
I DO WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR GETTING A HOTEL INTO THIS TOWN. THE CHAMBER IS ALSO THE VISITORS CENTER AND WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF TOURISTS COME THROUGH. WE ACTUALLY WORK WITH THE
COUNTY OF SONOMA TO SEND THEM A MONTHLY LOG OF HOW MANY
TOURISTS VISITED THE VISITOR CENTER, WHERE THEY CAME FROM, HOW
LONG THEY STAYED, WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT, A LOT OF IMPORTANT DATA FOR THE COUNTY TO HAVE. WHEN PEOPLE COME TO THE
VISITOR CENTER, ONE OF THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS IS WHERE CAN WE STAY WHERE WE CAN WALK DOWNTOWN. RIGHT NOW THOUGH HOTEL ON 116 OF COURSE THE FAIRFIELD IS A WONDERFUL SPOT BUT NOT WALKABLE
ESPECIALLY FOR THE ELDERLY OR THE HANDICAPPED AND IT'S NOT A SAFE WALK. I THINK MOVING FORWARD WITH THE HOTEL WOULD ENHANCE THE
EXPERIENCE OF TRAVELING BY GIVING PEOPLE OPTIONS AND THAT IS WHERE I STAND. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS IF THERE IS ANYBODY IN CHAMBERS THAT WANT TO MAKE IT PUBLIC COMMENT.
FIRST I AM REALLY GLAD TO SEE YOU ARE TAKING ON THESE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BARLOW BUILDING. IT REALLY NEEDS IT AND SEBASTOPOL ROAD IS THE MOST VIEWED SIDE BY FAR. I DO HAVE A QUESTION THOUGH ABOUT HOW YOU ARE DEALING WITH FLOOD CONTROL. WE HAVE THESE
PRESENTED HERE THAT ARE DOORS AND WINDOWS GOING DOWN TO THE GROUND AND THE WATER GETS HARDER THAN THAT THERE. AND IT GOES TO THE FIRST FLOOR BETWEEN FIVE FEET AND SIX FEET THERE. THAT IS A LOT OF STAIRS IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT YOUR FLOOR THAT HIGH. SO THAT HAS NEVER COME UP, AND THE SOLUTION HAS NEVER BEEN MENTIONED. THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS THE SIDEWALKS. YOU
DO HAVE ONE SIDEWALK THAT IS SIX FEET WIDE WHICH YOU SHOWED
GROUPS OF PEOPLE IN THE PRESENTATION STANDING ON THE SIDEWALK
TALKING AND PUTTING TREES IN THERE AND LOOKS MORE GRACIOUS THAN THAT AND IT IS GRACIOUS ACROSS THE STREET BUT IT'S NOT MUCH. BUT FOR
THIS KIND OF BUILDING, IT IS A MASSIVE BUILDING THAT WILL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE CIRCULATING AROUND IT. IT JUST SEEMS WAY TOO SMALL.
ABOUT 25 SECONDS.
LIKEWISE, THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT. IF YOU HAVE LARGE AMOUNTS OF
PEOPLE THERE WALKING, IT IS LITERALLY ONE STEP OFF THE CURB INTO TRAFFIC. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE YOU NEED SOMETHING THERE TO GET THE BUILDING AWAY FROM THE BUSY TRAFFIC. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HARMONIZE THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM. IF THERE IS ANYBODY IN ZOOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT PUBLIC COMMENT, RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY. SEEING NONE, WILL COME BACK INTO THE CHAMBERS.
HELLO. I AM ONE OF THE MERCHANTS IN THE BARLOW. WE DO GET ABOUT 1000 SALES PER MONTH AND WE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. THEY COME
AND IT'S MOSTLY DAY TRIPS AND WE ASK THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPER
FRIENDLY AND WE WANT TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND WHERE THEY ARE STAYING. THEY ARE STAYING IN ALL OF THESE PLACES AROUND SEBASTOPOL BUT VERY FEW ARE STAYING THERE. AS A RESULT, MOST OF
THE TIME, IT IS A DAYTRIP AND THEY ARE NOT COMING BACK THE NEXT DAY. WE ARE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT WOULD CREATE
MULTIPLE DAY CUSTOMERS AND I THINK ALL THE BUSINESSES WOULD
BENEFIT SO MUCH BY PEOPLE STAYING IN SEBASTOPOL AND NOT IN ALL THE
TOWNS AROUND AND ALSO HAVE LESS OF AN IMPACT ON AIRBNBS WHICH I DO THINK THAT PEOPLE WANT TO DO IF THEY STAY IN SEBASTOPOL. I THINK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT, I WILL GO BACK OUT TO THERE. ANYBODY WANTS TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY. SEEING NONE, I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS.
IF THERE IS ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO MAKE IT PUBLIC COMMENT, LET ME KNOW.
SEEING NONE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSE.
THANK YOU. WE WILL GO BACK UP TO THE DAY AS -- DAIS. ANY DELIBERATIONS OR MOTIONS?
I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE YOUR TEAM. AND THE STAFF AND YOU HAVE JUST DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB IN BRINGING THIS FORWARD. YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER BACK IN 2013 WAS 2013 OR MAYBE EVEN BEFORE AND 2009 WHEN YOU WERE DESIGNING THE BARLOW AND HOW MUCH EFFORT IT
WAS AND WHAT A PROCESS THAT WAS TO GET THE BARLOW TOGETHER AND HOW FAR YOU HAVE COME. SO I REALLY WANTED TO APPRECIATE THE
STAFF AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE EXCELLENT WORK IN PROVIDING US THIS MATERIAL. YOU DID ALL THE WORK BEFORE HAND. YOU HAVE DONE SO MUCH OF IT. I REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT. AND THEN, I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE WAIVER THAT YOU HAVE REQUESTED. I WOULD
LIKE TO SEE THIS SIGNAGE BE CONSIDERED PART OF THE ART FUND
BECAUSE THAT IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE USING THOSE TO
REPRESENT HISTORY AND THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN THOSE AREAS FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE. AND NOT ONLY THE HISTORY OF THAT BUT
ALSO THE NATURE AND MAYBE THESE TYPES AND THAT IS WHERE THE
LAGUNA FOUNDATION WILL REALLY HELP YOU BUT THE COST OF THE SIGNAGE AND I THINK YOU TALKED ABOUT 10,000 CUT THAT WILL BE PART OF THE ART AND I THINK THAT IS 50 BUT IN TERMS OF BENCHES AND BIKE
RACKS, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO BRING THAT BACK IN THE FUTURE RATHER
THAN HAVING A FIGURE OUT WHERE WE WILL TAKE THAT NOW BUT HAVE
THAT REQUEST BE MADE AT A LATER DATE FOR EXAMPLE MAYBE YOU GET
UP AND GOING AND YOU KNOW HOW MUCH EVERYTHING COSTS RATHER
THAN THE ESTIMATES AND IF YOU KNOW CONCRETE COSTS AND WE RECEIVED TAXES THAT WHEN WE CAN REIMBURSE YOU FOR THESE THINGS.
THAT IS MY THOUGHT RATHER THAN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT NOW AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THESE FEES WILL COME FROM. IT FEELS A LITTLE COMPLICATED. TO COMPLICATED.
THANK YOU. SHOULD I GO BACK?
I ACTUALLY WAS UNCLEAR ABOUT THE BENCHES AND I GUESS HOW MANY
BENCHES ARE BIKE RACKS AND IF YOU COULD POSTPONE IT CUT IT WOULD BE BETTER IN MY OPINION AS WELL. MY QUESTION WAS HOW WE WILL DEAL
WITH THIS TONIGHT AND IT SEEMS PREMATURE AND NOT THAT WE WOULDN'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE. WITH THAT SAID, I AM
THRILLED WITH THE PROJECT THAT IS FINALLY HERE AND IN FRONT OF THE
OTHER HOTEL THAT WE DID SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT AND WORKING WITH. IT IS AN EXISTING FOOTPRINT SO WHEN PEOPLE TALK
ABOUT THE FLUTTER HOTEL, REMEMBER WE USE AN EXISTING FOOTPRINT WHICH DOES MAKE IT A REDESIGN FOR ME. SO THAT JUST SEEMS LIKE A GOOD USE AND GOOD IDEA. I DO KNOW FROM MERCHANTS AND FROM
PEOPLE THAT I HAD FRIENDS WHO DON'T STAY IN SEBASTOPOL BECAUSE THEY SAY WE DON'T HAVE A HOTEL THEY LIKE. NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE OPERATOR WE HAVE AND THAT IS A GOOD BASIC HOTEL. I DO HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT DON'T STAY HERE. AND THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR PEOPLE TO GET UP IN THE MORNING AND GET COFFEE AND GO TO
BREAKFAST AND ALL OF THE THINGS YOU DO WHEN YOU STAY IN TOWN IN A PLACE FOR A FEW DAYS, YOU SPEND MORE MONEY THERE. AND THAT WILL SPILL OVER TO OUR DOWNTOWN AS WELL. PEOPLE WILL WALK AROUND AND SEE WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO OFFER. AND SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT
TONIGHT GOT A STAFF IS RECOMMENDING IT AND IT HAS BEEN TO THE
PLANNING COMMISSION AND THROUGH ALL THE HOOPS AND VIVID HE HAS
WEIGHED IN AND I DO APPRECIATE YOUR ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS THAT
THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD WITH THE MATERIALS IN DIFFERENT THINGS AND I KNOW IT IS ALWAYS A PROCESS. I FEEL LIKE IN MY VIEW
SINCE I HAVE BEEN ELECTED THAT THE BARLOW HAS BEEN A GOOD PARTNER. I DO TRUST WHAT WILL HAPPEN THAT WHEN YOU TELL US IT WILL
HAPPEN WE WILL MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS OR LAURA WILL PUT AN ARTICLE IN ABOUT IT AND YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE NEWSPAPER. ANYWAY, I
AM SUPPORTING THE PROJECT AND IF WE COULD PUSH BACK THOSE
ALLOWANCES IT DOES SEEM LIKE A SMALL THING SO WE CAN TAKE THAT UP LATER.
ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER?
I CAN THINK OF A WAY TO MAKE THIS HARDER. BUT I AM OKAY.
YOU ARE OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, YES. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE ENERGY STUFF. WHEN I HEARD THAT ABOUT RELYING ON NATURAL GAS, I SAW THE FACIAL REACTION NOT THRILLING. I
REALLY HOPE YOU TAKE US UP ON OUR OFFER AND THIS IS AN ALTERNATE
AND WE BOTH STAND READY TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS BECAUSE WE DO THESE REGIONAL BOARD POSITIONS TO BE ABLE TO DRAW THESE DOWN.
I AM SUPPORTING THE PROJECT BUT REALLY HOPING THE REGIONAL ENERGY POSSIBILITY IS NOT HAVE THIS SOLELY RELY ON NATURAL GAS.
ABOUT MY COMMENTS ABOUT SUPPORTING DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, I CANNOT BE MORE STRONG ABOUT THAT. IT WAS RIGHT AFTER I GOT
ELECTED AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BUT ALL OF THE SUDDEN WE HAD DIRECTIONAL SIGNS AND THEY ARE LIKE THIS BIG AND THIS LONG. AND WE
HAVE TO HAVE OTHER MORE CREATIVE WAYS TO SUPPORT THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES. WE HAVE TO OTHER THAN SMALL FINES FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE. I DO GET ALL THAT AND I'M HOPING YOU HEAR ME THAT IT IS IN NO SMALL FEAT TO SWITCH MAIN STREET FROM ONE WAITED TO WAY. I
AM JUST SAYING THAT THAT IS A HUGE COMMUNITY THING AND IN MY MIND IT ISN'T THE ANSWER. I AM SUPPORTING THE PROJECT BUT HOPING YOU'RE
HEARING ME ABOUT THE FACT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES. THIS IS DIRECTIONAL SIGNS OR SHOPS WITH THE MAIN STREET
BECAUSE WHILE I LOVE THE BARLOW, IT ISN'T THE CITY BUT IF THE DOWNTOWN DIES IT WON'T EVER BE ABLE TO BE UNDEAD. I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT BUT I AM SUPPORTING THE PROJECT. ANYONE FOR A MOTION? I WAS GOING TO ASK MARY WHAT THE MOTION COULD BE.
IT WOULD BE YOU ARE PROVING THIS AND WAIVING THE FIRST MEETING OF
THE ORDINANCE APPROVING THE BARLOW HOTEL AGREEMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT.
THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND?
A SECOND.
ROLL CALL?
I WANTED ADD SOMETHING TO IT. THIS IS THE 10,000 THEY WERE ASKING FOR THE SIGNAGE THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE ART.
WE CAN TAKE THAT UP AT A LATER TIME.
WE COULD. THAT IS FINE.
RIGHT NOW, THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT PROVIDES THAT THEY WILL INSTALL $50,000 OF PUBLIC ART AND UNDER THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THE PROPOSAL FOR PUBLIC ART IS GOING TO COME TO YOU. SO
THEY CAN SAY HERE IS THE SIGNS AND WE ARE COUNTING THIS OF THIS IN HERE IS THE REST OF HOW WE GET TO IT.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO URGE THEM TO TALK WITH THE PUBLIC ARTS COMMITTEE BEFORE YOU COME TO US WITH THE ART. OKAY? AFFECT US TO
CLARIFY AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, THEY WILL BE GOING TO THAT. ARE WE ALL RIGHT WITH THAT?
SO A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER CARTER AND HINTON TO APPROVE THE
WAIVING OF THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE APPROVING THE BARLOW HOTEL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
[ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
THE MOTION PASSES 4-0 WITH COUNCILMEMBERS APPROVING.
IT IS 8:25. LET'S TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF ITEMS TO GET THERE AND IT IS ALREADY 8:30. [ THE EVENT IS ON A BREAK. CAPTIONER ON STANDBY. ]
WE ARE RESUMING IN A FEW MINUTES SO PLEASE FIND YOUR WAY BACK TO YOUR SEATS. CODY, THANK YOU. EVERYONE IN THE CHAMBERS, IF YOU CAN
HEAR MY VOICE, EVERYONE IN THE CHAMBERS, WE REALLY NEED THAT GAVEL BACK. WE NEED THAT GAVEL BACK. HELLO. HELLO. EVERYONE THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE, PLEASE, WE ARE RESUMING. PLEASE COME BACK IF YOU ARE STAYING AND HAVE YOUR SEATS. THANK YOU. GOT IT. WE ARE RESUMING. EVERYONE. SET CODY, ARE WE GOOD?
ZACH, ARE WE READY TO DO THE RECORDING AGAIN, PLEASE?
YES.
ALL RIGHT. WE ARE PICKING IT BACK UP ON REGULAR CALENDAR ITEMS. WE DO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT AND IT IS ALREADY 8:30. NUMBER 10 IS APPROVAL OF RESOLUTIONS, BRINGING BACK PHASE 1 IVES PARK. I WILL READ THIS AND IT IS IMPORTANT. THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT RESOLUTIONS
A IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL THE CITY AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDING FOR $1,800,000 GRANT TO THE
SONOMA COUNTY AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION AND OPEN-SPACE
DISTRICTS MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR BRINGING BACK CALDER CREEK PHASE 1 LOCATED AT IVES PARK DETERMINING THAT THE PROJECT IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY GENERAL PLAN, ACKNOWLEDGING REVIEW OF
ALL MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINE MATERIALS AND
ATTACHMENTS, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE ARE OR WILL BE SUFFICIENT
MATCH FUNDS AND FUNDS TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE PROJECT AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN AND SUBMIT ALL REQUIRED
DOCUMENTATION FOR THE APPLICATION AND GRANT AGREEMENT
DOCUMENTS IF AWARDED, AND FOR THE SECOND RESOLUTION, RESOLUTION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEVASTOPOL AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDING OF $1,800,000 GRANT TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES FOR BRINGING BACK CALDER CREEK PHASE 1 LOCATED AT IVES PARK, DETERMINING THAT THE PROJECT IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY GENERAL PLAN, ACKNOWLEDGING REVIEW OF
ALL THE PROGRAM GUIDELINE MATERIALS AND ATTACHMENTS,
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE ARE OR WILL BE SUFFICIENT FUNDS AND
FUNDS TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE PROJECT, AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY
MANAGER TO SIGN AND SUBMIT ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION FOR THE APPLICATION AND GRANT AGREEMENT DOCUMENTS IF AWARDED. THE
REQUESTERS ARE COUNCILMEMBER CARTER AND COUNCILMEMBER
MAURER AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART WHICH IS ALWAYS UNDERLINED ABOUT FISCAL IMPACTS OR NO FISCAL IMPACTS. WHAT IT SAYS HIS INITIAL
INFORMATION PROVIDED TO STAFF INDICATES THAT THERE WOULD BE NO FISCAL IMPACT TO THE CITY. THE PROJECT CONSULTANT, CALIFORNIA
URBAN STREAMS PARTNERSHIP, WOULD USE FUNDS FROM ONE GRANT TO ACT AS MATCHING FUNDS FOR A SECOND GRANT. THIS INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED AS OF THE WRITING OF THE STAFF REPORT.
HOWEVER, IT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE CONFIRMED PRIOR TO
ACCEPTANCE OF THE GRANTS. WITH THAT, WITH THE COUNCILMEMBERS
PUTTING THIS FORWARD, AM I TURNING TO THE RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT
WITH THE ENGINEER AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OR THE
COUNCILMEMBERS?
I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HEAR FROM THE COUNCILMEMBERS
BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THAT AND I WANTED TO REALLY A BRIEF UPDATE IN 2013 THE MASTER PLAN WAS ADOPTED AND IN 2022 IT WAS THE
PUBLIC PLAN AND ADOPTED FOR THE PHASES AND THESE GRANTS WE HAVE
BEEN WORKING WITH, NOT ME PERSONALLY BUT THE CUSTOMERS HAVE
BEEN WORKING WITH THEM REGARDING THE APPLICATION AND SUBMITTAL OF THESE GRANT APPLICATIONS. THEY ARE ALSO ON HERE TONIGHT. I
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE COUNCILMEMBERS SPEAK, HAVE QUESTIONS AND
STAFF PROVIDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND ALSO PROVIDING FISCAL IMPACT TO THE CITY.
THANK YOU. WE WILL FOLLOW THAT AND I WILL TURN TO THE
RESPONSIBLE COUNCILMEMBERS WITH THANK YOUS AHEAD OF TIME.
WHICH ONE IS PRESENTING? BOTH?
OKAY. I THINK IT WAS MAYBE A MONTH AGO OR SO THAT I WAS
CONTACTED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER ABOUT THE
CALIFORNIA URBAN STREAMS PARTNERSHIP AND THE REQUEST FOR TWO
RESOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT TWO GRANTS THEY WANTED TO APPLY FOR AND THE GRANTS WOULD MATCH EACH OTHER. I DID MEET WITH THEM. I WAS
ALSO AWARE, AS WAS COUNCILMEMBER CARTER THAT THE FRIENDS OF IVES
PARK HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE WAY THIS PROJECT WOULD BE TAKING OVER THE EVENT CENTER. WE THEN HAD A JOINT MEETING TOGETHER. AND
THEN THIS ONLY AFFECTS THE AREA FROM HIGH STREET TO ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF IVES PARK AND IT DOESN'T AFFECT THE EVENT AREA. SO THE FRIENDS OF IVES PARK HAVE SUPPORTED THIS PHASE 1 OF THE PROJECT. WE ALSO HAD COMMUNICATION WITH THE ROTARY. THEY DO HAVE A PROJECT.
THERE PROJECT IS MOSTLY FOCUSED ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PARK. THEY ALSO HAVE MET WITH PEOPLE TO DISCUSS THEIR PROJECT. THEY ARE
WORKING TOGETHER, AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR HAS MET TO DISCUSS THIS. I DID ASK HIM IF HE HAD ANY CONCERNS WITH THESE GRANT APPLICATIONS. JUST WONDERING IF THE COUNCILMEMBER WANTS TO ADD ANYTHING TO WHAT I SAID AND I CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WELL.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS THE START OF WORKING ON
A LARGER PROJECT AND GETTING SEVASTOPOL TO A PLACE WHERE IT HAS A BEAUTIFUL PARK IN THE CITY CENTER. THIS IS GETTING THE GRANT
UNDERWAY TO WHERE WE CAN DO THIS IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T INTERFERE
WITH ANY OF THE REGULAR OPERATIONS THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF
AND FAIRLY SELF-CONTAINED AND NOT COST ANYTHING TO THE CITY AND NOT ADD ANY BURDEN OF MAINTENANCE AS WELL. I THINK IT IS ALSO
IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT BY HAVING THE GRANT ONLY GO THROUGH
THE REAR SECTION OR MID SECTION THAT IT DOES LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THIS
AND ENABLES THE OTHER TWO GROUPS TO PROCEED WITH THEIR PLANS WITHOUT MUCH FURTHER INTERFERENCE. UPON READING A AND B, IS THERE A DIFFERENCE I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? I CAN'T REALLY READ INTO IT.
FOR THE RESOLUTIONS? ONE IS FOR THE OPEN-SPACE GRANT AND ONE OF THE WATER RESOURCES. THEY ARE TWO SEPARATE GRANTS WE HAVE TO APPLY FOR. YES, THEY ARE BOTH SEPARATE GRANTS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, JUST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, I WAS TOLD BY C USP, ARE THERE ANY REPRESENTATIVES OF THEM HERE?
YES. THEY ARE ON ZOOM.
JUST TO CLARIFY THAT CUSP IS APPLYING FOR THESE GRANTS. IT IS NOT THE CITY. WE ARE ASKING FOR SUPPORT FROM THE CITY IN TERMS OF THE TWO RESOLUTIONS BUT THE CITY ISN'T THE APPLICANT. CORRECT?
YES.
ALSO TO CLARIFY AS WELL I KNOW THE COUNCILMEMBER CAN SPEAK TO THIS AS WELL. BUT BECAUSE THE ONE GRANT WOULD BE COVERING ANY
TYPE OF MATCHING GRANT FOR THE SECOND GRANT SO THIS ONE IF WE GET
IT WOULD COVER WHATEVER THE MATCH WOULD BE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES.
OKAY. AS FAR AS PRESENTERS, WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE
COUNCILMEMBER AND YOUR THOUGHT?
IF WE COULD JUST HAVE IAN OR JOSH GIVE A VERY SHORT MAYBE TWO
MINUTES OR THREE MINUTES AT THE MOST TO SEE WHAT THE GRANT IS IN THE FISCAL TO THE CITY AND HOW ONE COVERS THE OTHER?
SHORT AND DEFINITELY ADDRESSING THE FISCAL PART BECAUSE WHAT I
HEARD IS NOT WHAT I WAS THINKING WHO THE ACTUAL APPLICANT WOULD BE SO TURNING IT OVER TO WHOEVER IS ON ZOOM.
DO YOU WANT TO GO OR JOSH?
I WILL START. JOSH HAS THE PLAN THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED IN 2022 AND ALSO WHAT WE WOULD INCLUDE IN THE GROUP. THAT IS THE IVES PARK RESTORATION PROJECT APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN 2022 AND THE GRANT APPLICATIONS GO UP TO ABOUT A LITTLE OVER MAYBE 10. SO THAT IS 420 FEET WHICH IS ANOTHER 600 FEET DOWNSTREAM TO DO THAT. IN
TERMS OF FISCAL ISSUES WE WILL BE EMULATING WHAT THE SUN HAS DONE JUST NEXT-DOOR. THEY HAVE BEEN RESTORING THE CREEK GOING
THROUGH THE CITY AND USING THESE THREE PHASES WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS PHASE THIS RESERVATION -- RESTORATION. THERE LATEST GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCES WAS FOR $4.3 MILLION. THE MATCHING GRANTS THAT SUPPORT THIS CITIES NEED TO HAVE THE 25% MATCH FOR DWI BUT COMING FROM WHERE THEY CAME FROM AND
FOR THE FOUNDATION AND THE OPEN-SPACE THE DISTRICT AND THE WATER DISTRICT AND EVEN THE NURSERY. SO WE ARE EMULATING THEIR
STRATEGY OF HAVING THE SONOMA COUNTY OPEN-SPACE AND
PRESERVATION OF THE OPEN-SPACE COVER THE LOCAL MATCH THE CITY NEEDS. AND THE GRANT APPLICATION COSTS THE URBAN STREETS PARTNERSHIP HAS DONATED THAT. WE DONATED THE DESIGN. AND THE
ACTUAL NAME ON THE APPLICATION WILL BE THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL AND THE URBAN STREAMS PARTNERSHIP AS THEIR PARTNER. SO THAT'S TO CLARIFY THE FUNDING ARRANGEMENT AND THE EXTENT OF THE PROJECT.
BRIEFLY, THE CONCEPT PLAN THAT WAS VOTED ON BY THE CITY WAS
REVIEWED BY GHD, AND ENGINEERING FIRM AND THEY FOUND IT WOULD
STOP FLOODING THE PARK AND THE CITY STORM UNDERNEATH MAIN STREET ON THE BOULEVARD. AND IF WE CONTINUE THE PROJECT FROM IDES
PARK THROUGH DOWNTOWN WE COULD ACTUALLY USE THOSE TO REMOVE
THE HYDRAULIC THAT CREATES THE FLOODING AND RIGHT NOW, THESE
RESOLUTIONS THEY FOCUS ON WE LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER
COLLABORATING WITH THE FRIENDS OF IVES PARK AND WHEREVER THE MEETINGS WERE AND THEY WANT TO SEE THAT CHANGE. AND IT'S MUCH SAFER TO CROSS THE STREET. AND THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE THE ENGINEERING PLANS AND JUST FOR CLARITY,. THESE FOLKS WHO JUST
SPOKE ARE NOT ACTUALLY FROM THAT AGENCY AND THEY ARE FROM THAT CREEK AND ON WHO IT IS THAT IS SPEAKING AND WHAT CAPACITY.
THEY ARE FROM THE [ INAUDIBLE ]. [ INAUDIBLE ] IS THE DIRECTOR OF THAT ORGANIZATION. I AM ON THE SUPPORT STAFF OF THAT ORGANIZATION. AND THE OTHER ONE IS FROM THAT. AND IS THERE ANYTHING MORE AS FAR AS THE PRESENTATION? IS THERE ANYMORE PRESENTATION AT ALL? THERE WASN'T ANY PRESENTATION. WE WANTED TO SHOW YOU THE PLAN AND WHAT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT WOULD BE.
GREAT. WE ARE ON FROM QUESTIONS THAN FOR MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES
SECOND KNOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BUT THERE IS A FEW OTHER THINGS
INCLUDING THE ROTARY CLUB THAT WANTED TO DO SOME THINGS AND MY
UNDERSTANDING AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB IS
THREE OF THE FOUR THINGS OR MAYBE ALL OF THEM WOULD FIT INTO THE PLAN THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED IN 2022 AND I THINK THE
QUESTION IS THAT COVERED SEATING PAVILION AND WHETHER THE
ROTARY CLUB WANTS TO PLACE THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE IF WE WERE TO GET GRANTS ON THAT STREAM RESERVATION. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
IS VERIFIED BECAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT TO GO DOWN ONE ROAD AND HAVE
THE ROTARY CLUB INVEST A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT IN A COVERED SEATING PAVILION THAT THEN LATER WOULDN'T FIT INTO THE OVERALL PLAN.
YES. THE ROTARY CLUB HAS THREE PEOPLE THAT MET WITH [ INAUDIBLE ] WHAT THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND ALONG WITH OTHER PLANS. SO IT
WAS AT THAT MEETING THAT THEY RESOLVED THERE WAS NO CURRENT OR
FUTURE CONFLICTS CUT THAT WHAT OUR PLAN IS, AFTER WE FINISH
CONSTRUCTION TO THAT AREA WHICH IS WHERE IT IS THAT WE DO COME
BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND APPLY FOR ANOTHER GRANT TO DO MUCH
MORE SUBSTANTIAL PLANNING SO WE HAVE A LOT OF PLANNING TIME WITH
THE STAKEHOLDERS WITH FRIENDS OF THE PARK AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AND EVEN UPSTREAM PROPERTY OWNERS AND BY THE WAY IN THE FALL OF 2021 WE DID VISIT ALL SIX PROPERTIES UPSTREAM AND INTERACTED WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS THERE. WE CAN REVISIT THAT. SO A SUBSEQUENT GRANT WOULD BE HEAVY ON THE PLANNING SIDE.
HOLD ON.
SO IN PHASE 2 YOU WILL COME BACK INTO A BUNCH MORE PLANNING
WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE THE PLANNING AT LEAST A PLAN EXISTS AND I DO
THINK A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS NOW SEE THE PLAN THAT EXISTED AND WHY DON'T THEY JUST PLACED PAVILION OUT OF THE WAY, RIGHT?
THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF AREAS WHERE THERE ARE BENCHES THAT ARE NOT VERY GREAT OUT THERE. I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE, I GUESS, THE ROTARY CLUB TO LOOK AT THE PLAN. MAYBE THIS PAVILION COULD BE
BUILT OUT OF THE WAY TO AVOID A LOT MORE INVESTMENT IN FUTURE THINGS. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY HAS TOLD THE ROTARY CLUB. WHEN THEY WROTE THIS, THEY MAY NOT HAVE HAD ANY CLUE. SO THEY COULD FIGURE OUT WHERE TO BUILD THAT PAVILION. WE ARE NOT BUILDING IT IN AN INAPPROPRIATE PLACE.
THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE CONNECTED THAT SO THEY COULD HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS SO THE FUTURE PLANS WON'T CONFLICT.
RIGHT.
WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EVENT CENTER IS AT LEAST AS LARGE AND FACING THE RIGHT DIRECTION AS IT IS NOW. AND JESSICA, WHO
WORKS FOR CUSP HAS ASSURED FRIENDS OF IVES THAT THEY COULD TREAT THIS DESIGN SO IT WOULD BE COMPATIBLE.
WE DON'T JUST WANT TO -- THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THAT PLAN AND SINCE THEY APPROVED THAT IN 2022 --
CAN I PUT YOU ON HOLD THERE. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS NOT APPROVED A DIFFERENT PLAN YET. THAT PLAN DOES EXIST TODAY. SO I THINK WE CAN
STOP THERE AND JUST ASK IF THE ROTARY CLUB HAS CONSIDERED WHERE THEY WILL BUILD THE PAVILION. THAT IS WHAT I AM ASKING WITHOUT FILLING IN A BUNCH OF MORE BLANKS.
WE DO HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS.
I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS YEAR
AND ALSO RECEIVED A LOT OF E-MAILS FROM FRIENDS OF IVES TO MAKE MORE TANGIBLE CHANGES THAT COULD HAPPEN. I KNOW WHEN I FIRST GOT
ELECTED I STARTED DISCUSSING ABOUT THAT UGLY FENCE AND
EVERYTHING AND WANTING THE AREA TO LOOK NICER BECAUSE I SPENT A
LOT OF TIME THERE WITH MY SEAN AND I WISH THAT DOWN AND THEY SAID
WE HAVE THIS BIG PLAN AND I ASKED WHEN THEY COULD HAPPEN AND MASTER PLANS COULD LAST 50 YEARS AND I HAVE SEEN THAT IN A LOT OF CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS. I AM WONDERING, HOW DOES THIS DOVETAIL INTO THIS? I KNOW YOU HAVE SPOKEN AND SAID THEY ARE ON BOARD BUT
DOES THAT MEAN WE ARE WAITING FOR THESE GRANTS BEFORE ANY CHANGE CAN HAPPEN?
THIS WAS A LOT OF THE WORK THAT I THINK WE ADDRESSED WHEN WE
WERE DOING THIS BECAUSE INITIALLY I WANTED TO SUPPORT CHANGING
THE FENCE IN THE FIRST PLACE, THE ORIGINAL AND IT WAS A PLAN BY CUSP WHICH I HAD NO IDEA. BUT SINCE THAT, WE ARE WORKING WITH FRIENDS
OF IVES TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO SOMETHING NOW AND I WILL HAVE TO
BRING THIS UP LATER BECAUSE I HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH PLANNING OR WHATNOT. BUT THE FENCING AROUND THIS WHERE THE WILLOW IS, THAT
CAN BE ADDRESSED NOW WITHOUT THE CUSP AND WE COULD TAKE IT OUT OF THE FENCING IF THAT FITS IN WITH OUR BUDGET. ALSO FRIENDS OF IVES
AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED GROUPS THAT WANT TO IMPROVE THE AREA ABOVE THAT CAN ALSO DO WORK. WHAT WE TRY TO MAKE SURE IS THAT EVERYBODY CUT IT ALL CAN HAPPEN. SECT THAT IS MY BIGGEST QUESTION
IF THEY APPROVE THIS I DON'T WANT TO HEAR AFTERWARDS IF SOMEBODY
BRING SOMETHING BACK TO DO SOMETHING IMMEDIATE THAT WE HAVE
THIS GRANT APPLICATION BECAUSE I SAT THROUGH A FEW CALLS THE LAST FEW DAYS ABOUT GRANTS AND A LOT OF THESE ARE HAPPENING. I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT BECAUSE I WILL HERE WE HAVE ANOTHER APPLICATION AND I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT.
ME EITHER.
OKAY. I AM COMPLETELY CONFUSED ABOUT THE FINANCE PART AND THEY
WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT WHEN I READ THINGS ON AGENDAS ABOUT
BEING UNCLEAR ABOUT FISCAL IMPACT, GIVEN WHERE WE ARE STILL UNDER
A DECLARATION OF FISCAL EMERGENCY, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS ON THE AGENDA. I AM NOT CLEAR AT ALL ABOUT WHAT FINANCIAL RISK THIS PLAN HEADS POTENTIALLY FOR THE CITY. AM NOT CLEAR ABOUT THE FINANCES OR CLEAR WHO THE FINANCE APPLICANT IS. THIS IS COME UP
BEFORE WE THINK WE KNOW WHO IS APPLYING AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT IS LIKE OOPS IT IS THIS PERSON BUT ANOTHER ENTITY. I AM JUST GOING
TO TURN TO THE STAFF BECAUSE I WANT NO DISRESPECT TO ANY OF THE PRESENTERS. I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE STAFF WHY THIS WAS TYPED ON THE AGENDA AND WHAT IS REALLY THE FINANCIAL RISK TO THE CITY? IT IS OKAY IF WE DON'T KNOW. I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THIS BECAUSE I AM PREPARED TO NOT VOTE FOR THIS UNTIL I GET THE FULL THING. IF WE
DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS, BECAUSE APPARENTLY WE DIDN'T HAVE THE
ANSWERS WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT BEFORE AGENDA REVIEW AND IT IS ANSWERED STILL AT THE TIME IT WAS RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC. IF WE
DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS, I AM FINE AND WILL BE FINE NOT VOTING FOR THIS. FACT THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT STAFF DIDN'T HAVE THE
TIME TO LOOK INTO THESE GRANT REQUIREMENTS AND WHAT IS REQUIRED
FOR EACH OF THEM AND WHAT THE MATCHING REQUIREMENTS MAY OR MAY NOT BE FOR EACH. NUMBER ONE, IT HAS BEEN REPRESENTED WHAT
THEY ARE COVERED WE HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY WHAT THOSE MIGHT BE.
THANK YOU. FOR ME, THAT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE STORY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
I WANT TO SAY THAT IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE MOVED FROM QUESTIONS INTO OPINIONS AND COMMENTARY. IF THAT IS WHERE WE ARE MOVING, I AM
HAPPY TO START TO MAKE COMMENTS BUT I FEEL LIKE WE JUMPED AHEAD WITH A FEW COMMENTS. I THINK WE SHOULD FOLLOW THE PROCESS EVEN
THOUGH THERE ARE OPINIONS HERE ON THE DAIS BECAUSE I HAVEN'T GONE
THERE YET AND I THINK WE NEED TO HEAR FROM EACH PERSON AFTER WE FOLLOW THE PROCESS.
GOT IT. THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER. ARE THE OTHER QUESTIONS APPEAR BEFORE WE GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC? SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENT?
THIS IS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE DISCUSSION OF SEEKING A GRANT APPLICATION FOR PHASE 1 AND WE WILL GOING TO CHAMBERS FIRST AND THEN WENT TO ZOOM. LISA?
HELLO AGAIN. LISA PIERCE. SO I AM IN SUPPORT OF PHASE 1 OF THE 2024 -- CUSP DESIGN PLAN BUT NOT IN FAVOR OF PHASE 2 WHICH WOULD AFFECT THE SIZE AS IT IS NOW. WHEN WE MET WITH JESSICA I DID ASK A QUESTION
AND I GOT A CLEAR ANSWER WHICH I DID APPRECIATE BUT I WOULD LIKE TO
ASK THAT SAME QUESTION AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED AND MAKE SURE THE WHOLE COUNCIL CAN HEAR THE ANSWER.
THE QUESTION IS, IF WE PURSUE THIS AND PHASE 1 BECOMES A REALITY, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE A PHASE 2 REQUIREMENT? IF THAT HAPPENS? MAYBE FOR FUNCTIONALITY AND SAFETY AND ALL OF THAT STUFF? WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DEMOLISHING OUR CHANNEL NOW AND BY
THE WAY WPA PROJECT THAT THIS CREEK CHANNEL AND BUILDING SOME NEW CONCRETE WALLS ON THE SIDES THAT WOULD BE FURTHER APART. IT'S A PRETTY MAJOR PROJECT WITH A LOT OF DEMOLITION. I AM OKAY WITH
THAT BECAUSE THE EVENT AREA WOULD STILL STAY AS IT IS AND WE CAN STILL HOST BIG EVENTS THERE. I AM VERY CONCERNED AND I KEEP HEARING HER SAYING THIS IS PHASE 1 AND THEN THERE IS PHASE 2 AND IT SCARES ME. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. THE QUESTION AGAIN IS IS THERE ANY REASON WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO PHASE 2 IF WE DO THAT.
THANK YOU. WE WILL GO OUT TO THERE.
[ CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING ]
Please stand by for realtime captions.
We have 1100 people jammed in. It's standing room only. It's hard to imagine if we did phase 2 what that would look like. It's not to say if we an event space that could be a legitimate choice. But, I think most people have no clue what we are talking about. And, we have talked to longtime residents, and they had no idea any of this is going on. And, unfortunately, what was thought to be the event space was just the area in front of the stage, and it's clearly not that. We recognize the event space, it's the entire area from the ballpark, all the way up to Jewel. It's on the grassy area that we use so well. And that, to me, having our event space is very important for us. Piste town folks, they had no clue this was going on.
The major user of the event space in the park--
You have about 25 seconds.
If we start going down this road of we'll do a planning grant to figure out what the next step is, I just think we need to put this to bed now in terms of phase two three thank you.
Thank you for your public comment. I will go back out to zoom if there is anyone on zoom would like to make a public comment on this item. Seeing none. I will come back into the chambers. If there is anyone who would like to make a public comment.
Hello, I am Jenelle. I work for whole foods market. I've been living here and working here for 15 years. I run a nonprofit birding group, it's Sonoma County. I am very passionate about climate action. I just want to sign up to help actually and get more involved. But, I think it would make me very proud to see this work happening in the town that I live and lead groups to the outdoors to be more familiar with nature in our city. The Laguna is an important space for us for birding. Before this meeting I was standing in his gravel parking lot and recorded 30 different species of birds, and it's really amazing to have that right here without having to drive anywhere. We talk about the flooding, and we talk about making this a pedestrian friendly place. I try to walk all over this town with my dog. And I think this would set a precedent that we are committed to nature, our connection to the Laguna. We talked about indigenous communities. And I think that events are really important to me, too, but I think there's a way we can make space for both and be a small town that is really showing we are walking the walk and talking the talk as far as sustainability goes. There's nothing more important to that than starting with water. I appreciate this is even coming up, and thank you for listening.
Thank you for your public comment. Next, on zoom, Robert, can you unmute yourself, please?
Yes.
Thank you, can you see the timer? All right, go ahead, please.
I know it is not your usual to answer questions, but the first person who asked is there a reason if you did phase 1 you have to do phase 2? I don't think there has been any discussion, I guess the purpose and part is to manage water through the park. How is that water flow going to change? How does that affect either end of the project um-- does that have any impact on the requirement that you have to do the further phases, because if you don't you will have a water management problem um-- I think it's great if it turns out there is less silt and sand in the storm drains I've talked with the city manager, he has said that is one of the unknown problems that we have in our city right now is that our storm drains are in pretty bad shape and need work. Um-- obviously climate change means more rain, more flooding, blah blah blah, that's my comment, thanks.
Thank you for your public comment. I will come back in chambers, if there is anyone who would like to make a public comment. Seeing none. Is there anyone else on zoom would like to make a public comment, raise your hand virtually. Seeing none. That will close the public comment.
Any comments or further deliberation?
My hope is that the entire Creek it can be naturalized through the park. That's my hope to read but, done in balance with assuring that the event center is the same, or even larger space.
And um-- the way it is now you have a stage. You can't-- Have a bifurcated-- You have a channelized creek. There is a fence on both sides of that creek. Some people are sitting in front of the stage, and others are sitting behind the fence behind big redwoods. You can't really see the stage, but people sit there anyway. They are spread out, so it seems if you take out that channel and then you lengthen that street people will be able to sit along the sides of the stream. I don't see why that would reduce the space. And plus, the landscape designer talked about assuring friends of Ives Park she could change the plan to ensure that event center is adequate. And that's really important to me to make sure that it is, because I wouldn't approve of it if it wasn't. It's very important. I don't think if you move the event center on the other side next to um-- the pool on the other side of the pool, that's not big enough. That's not going to work. It needs to be where it is, it needs to have the sound facing North and have an adequate space. It seems to me the way it is now is kind of a complicated thing that people make it work. So if there is some complications in the future people will make it work. And I feel good about that, so I just appreciate the process. I want to thank the California urban stream partnership for being here tonight. I thank the staff for working on this, and I am just grateful, because to me naturalizing the creek and getting it out of that channelized um-- cement-- It's very meaningful to me, and I appreciate the woman who talked about the birds and nature is a big-- Really a big, important thing about life to me. So having a creek naturalized-- I would love to see a naturalized all the way through town and have that area over by that trail naturalized or lengthening for in terms of climate resilience that's why I will be supporting it's not, thank you.
Councilmember Hinton?
I want to make my comments. I voted for the project in 2022. What's ironic about it is that piece town was not happening in Ives Park. It was happening in Barlow years ago. It could happen in Barlow in the future, and we have no idea if that's going to happen, so for me talking about our really Bulova Ives Park where I've held many birthday parties for my child, is not about piece town, it's not about space for one event, piece town wasn't even there if you years ago, it was in the Barlow, and people loved it just as much I really believe. Um-- I have been so excited about this project and daylighting the creek. That is why I served on AG and open space for years. To figure out how we could get grant money, because a small town can't do this, and yet, we are so unique we have underground creeks running, no one has that in Sonoma County. If you fidget Ashland or these other counties there was a gentleman who has passed now who lived on the corner who wanted the daylight before we repaved the corner, trying to recall his name. But, we heard a lot about that, because it goes right under that pavement and that corner. So I am going to vote in favor of this grant just because we are applying for it. Does not mean we have to accept it. I understand staff has invented, but it's an AG and open space grant we would come up with half to fund the, we are only talking about phase 1. Who knows when phase 2 or funding down the road could happen. Santa Rosa Creek has happened in three phases, it's taken forever. So, um-- I just Inc. it's a great opportunity. I'm in favor of funding it, and I appreciate two councilmembers getting the groups together so they can at least be heard and talk to each other so they can figure it out.
And then we will have to figure out the fence, but tonight, we are voting on a grant, and I'm going to be in favor of it. Thanks.
Vice Mayor?
Yeah, I just wanted to say you know, to your point about I believe that is called rated funding. It's, it can be precarious at times having one grant carry another. There's a lot of different complications that can occur, but grants, I mean, there's no guarantees. But, if we don't try we will never know. End if we are not fortunate enough to know we have to step out and figure out how we can work together with our community to match that. There are so many if's and maybes, my two concerns are what I said earlier. I don't want this to stall, action that could happen immediately or in the near future, instead of 10 years down the road um-- I ran a different Conservancy in the Bay Area, and we had a master plan that is little in the-- Literally 50 years old. So I have experience with those delays. So I just wanted to mention that, and my second point just lift my head, um-- but, that's one of the concerns. So, and, I am in support of this. I think it's good. That was my biggest thing. I want to make sure we can take action in the near future.
Thank you. Getting back to my overall concerns, and granted, I did jump the gun on this, I am always really freaked out when I see an item come to agenda review, and then agenda, and the finance part is still unclear. So that's why I asked staff if they are clear on who the applicant is, and what the potential fiscal responsibility would be to the city. I heard they don't know, I understand the concept of applying for grants, and if you get when it's great.
Then, rushing to figure out how you will get it implemented, but for me, that's too immature.
I need to-- I have heard this, too, that we go down this road applying for grants and figuring out how it's going to be financed, and phase 1 but once you go down that road it will be an automatic assumption this will proceed to stage two and proceed to stage three. And I have heard plenty, I appreciate those who have taken the time to talk with me, but that to me is also a nonstarter. All these questions, I don't have enough information, I will not support it, but to my colleagues, thank you again for all of your time and meeting with everyone. I tried to meet with a few folks, too. It is an ongoing thing that is important, but for now, I cannot support this. Thank you.
I would like to make a motion to approve the resolutions for grant applications for bringing back Calder Creek phase 1.
Is there a second key market
I will second it.
Great.
So moved by councilmember Maurer, seconded by councilmember Carter to approve resolutions of bringing back Calder Creek. [ Roll being called ] Motion passes, 4-1, with mayor Zollman voting nay.
-- Or direct appointment development director to be part of an climate Directors coordination meeting. Currently the RCPA facilitates a bimonthly embers and partners meeting with a step representation from each jurisdiction. These meetings are effective for sharing information and facilitating collaboration on climate action but like decision-makers for the real-time action. The climate Directors meeting frequency is to be determined, but somewhere between monthly and quarterly. This model has been effective on the transportation side of the house with the monthly public works erectors meeting. Responsible department is councilmember Hinton, and also the responsible department is the city manager. I should have stated that better. The councilmember who brought this forward is councilmember Hinton, responsible department is a city manager. There's no fiscal impact with approval of this item to the city's budget other than staff time.
Yeah, let me speak to this. So, we have had for a long time in many committees including Santa Rosa-- Watershed has technical meetings with our technical staff. With our public works director GSA meeting and CSTA trying to put together a once a month meeting for the people kind of involved in the climate side with a collaboration so that it is small cities like our jurisdiction open that maybe we can work better together with multiple cities instead of going it alone. So say Hills Bergen Sebastopol and Cloverdale, that kind of fits us. Then our CPA-- RCPA would assist in applying jointly. So they are trying to start this monthly meeting, and I had originally suggested someone from climate action could but I talked to James Cameron with the organization. He really wants to have someone with decisionmaking power, and that means someone that is employed by us. I found research on this item while our city manager was not in favor of our any basically attending, I was told she basically was busy. Last month we had a temporary employee attend, and since that employee is only temporary that does not make sense to me, and it can be attended by Zim, so it's not like it has to be an in-person meeting. I brought this forth, because I would like the council to weigh in, and possibly consider-- Sorry, my phone-- Possibly consider giving direction to have our community developer director attend these zoom meetings instead of a part-time assistant temporary person that we have now because John Jay has left our city.
That's why I'm bringing it forward. I thought we would have a quick discussion about it, and if directed by city Council, I thought we could have any start attending those meetings.
Thank you. Did staff, any staff want to weigh in? Mary? As councilmember Hinton stated I talked to James Cameron, he was not a favor of a public member sitting in, he prefers a staff member be sitting in on this and would prefer community development director if we could.
Okay.
I think you can see the list of everybody that is invited to the meeting. So in every other city but ours is represented by someone, a permanent employee um-- department head type person.
If there is no presentation I will go into questions. Which one, I think I saw council member Carter's hand first.
Um-- I just want to ask, Emi, how is your space? Is this something you are comfortable with ? Like interested in?
I am interested in climate action matters. I think it greatly is an area of interest for the community. My workplan and my activities are typically something I've it with my supervisor, and I follow direction on that work plan. If I am directed to not attend a meeting I will not attend a meeting. If I am given leave to attend a meeting I would like to attend the meeting if possible.
Councilmember Maurer?
In terms of your work load and time, do you have time to attend this meeting? I will jump in. The item tonight is to direct the city manager. Ultimately the community developer Stover sports-- Still reports-- Don't have time, don't go, then they wouldn't be going, and that would between the Council and city manager about, why are you doing X and not between the Council and Emi--
So my biggest concern is the builders remedy. And I know that the housing element falls on the community development director, so that is my biggest concern is that if this project takes time away and threatens our community with the builders remedy, that I don't want to support it. But if you feel you have time, are you saying I can't ask her if she has time? You can.
That's my question. Do you have time in light of my concerns? As I said, I would have to follow my direction on the workplan I discussed with my supervisor. That said I feel like it's a matter of prioritization, I can discuss the matter also with our city Council-- City Council or city Council or discussion with him in the city manager about priorities.
This got added to agenda. was out of town, because there was some discussion. To be blunt the but Mark Rankin is attending three other meetings. I brought this agenda item in so we could direct what we think should happen.
Councilmember Carter?
We are directing the city manager to have a staff member? It's one hour amount.
It could win us grants and stuff.
Vice Mayor? Do you want me to go?
I feel so conflicted here, because I feel like we are getting into staffing, and that's not our role, but I hear what you are saying, too. Go ahead.
So, I am going to ask a question of anyone sitting over there. So we just went through goal setting. And we came up with buckets in several things under there. We have directed staff to come back with an action plan about how feasible it is to complete all those things between now and the end of the next fiscal year. so the question is if we approve this how does that affect the overall weighing and work to be done about bringing action plans back for those sundry items we want staff to work on based on our April 1st plan be? So what the item is tonight is just directing the city manager have or direct when meeting a month for an hour. Not in the bigger commitment than that. If the city manager might choose to do that and that would be a conversation for the Council to have with the city manager's part of the performance evaluation we wanted XY and Z, and you would follow through on that. You know, there could be, let's say there is grants we are applying for. That might be a bigger time commitment than the, then the city manager might say you didn't fit this into your goals for, made up number here, 30 hours, so I, that's not what the item is before you. Tonight it's just expressing your desire to tell the same answers you know we should have a staff, a department head at this meeting for one hour a month.
Just to clarify in question if we direct staff and it's back on a general manager to take that one hour away, per month, from other potential action plan items-- Priorities from the April 1st goal setting correct?
Correct. There's a limited number of hours.
Other questions before we go to public comment?
Let me add one more thing about how this got here. We hope somebody from the climate action committee could attend, because we were told maybe we shouldn't have staff do it. I brought this forth anyway that they don't want climate action person that has no way to weigh in. I brought it forth anyway, because I thought, if this is part of the job description from one of our department heads like Mark Rankin why isn't it part of the description for every department head to attend our regional meetings? That's why I brought it forth. It still sits here. I leave the decision to you.
[ Inaudible ]
If no other questions, Mary, public comment.
This is for public comment on the direction to the city manager regarding the climate directors coordination meeting. If you would like to make a public comment I will come to the chambers first then out to zoom. Steve?
I will just be really quick. I want to support the one hour a month, given that we have greatly constricted the climate action committee to possibly unworkable 10 hours per month we would see this as a little bit more than-- All the other cities are represented on this committee, and I just wanted to point out I think there has been and still is vacancy on the RCPA citizens advisory committee, that has been vacant since the beginning of the year. It would be good to follow up with that, too. Thank you.
Next I will go out to zoom great Robert, can you unmute yourself, please? Did it work?
It did. Can you see the timer? Go ahead, please.
Um-- yeah I am just looking at this as an observer, and watching what's happening in the planning department right now. In the past couple years there has not been much planning, now you have the Barlow project which is roughly on an accelerated timeline, the canopy project should be breaking ground shortly. We have, assuming that they are still on board, we have the rise and shine breaking ground once the ground dries out. You've got this housing element, which I don't know, I went through it recently, and it's a massive waste of time to tell you the truth, but I guess if the state wants it we will have to do it to avoid penalties. And a bunch of other development projects going on, and you have the time, climate action committee, hard to imagine there is not time to do this to them by the way, every meeting you guys come up with something that takes one more hour of staff time. It adds up over time. I would propose an alternative. To tell you the truth I think Phil Carter would be a better representative, and if there is something that came out of it he would see it and be able to bring it back in a much more direct way than perhaps even the planning director, we call it the community director-- I am not sure if we are led to think that far outside the box. Thank you.
I will come back to chambers, if there is anyone who would like to make public comment.
Seeing none. If there is anyone else on zoom that would like to make a public comment-- Seeing none. Public comment is close on this item.
Vice Mayor?
I have another question, and I think it's to your point with the goals and all that, I am wondering is there a way for us to look at this after we figure out what our plan is for our proposal? I'm just wondering if that-- I would just give you my comment, because what I am concerned about is, you know, we upped the salary, we brought on a community development director to do a comic development. And I know that we are short in the planning department. We have a lot of challenges, and, where do we find the balance, is what I'm saying? I am not against it, but at the same time there is a finite amount of hours in the day, and we also need economic development, so that is where I am sitting. I don't want to spend an hour debating it, I just-- [ Laughter ] want to express those thoughts. To the public comment's point everything we do is one more hour, one more hour, then it adds up, and what have we accomplished?
I will jump in, too, to echo that. We had a discussion about this at agenda review, and I think it's typed somewhere in one of these reports that the recommendation is to just pause every individual councilmember's request until we get staff the time to review all the priorities and come up with an active plan they recommend. While I support this 100% environment Sonoma sitting on clean power, I love it-- I just think we need to, like, figure out, as the vice Mayor said, a process to give staff time to review all of the things that came out of April 1st, and figure out what is viable to achieve those, because we didn't promise the community we would try to do something at the end of the fiscal year. For that reason I am not supporting this one tonight.
I would also like to make a motion to table this for two weeks, or whatever is-- Just to give us a moment to breathe on this. But, I support this immensely. But I just want to give staff time.
So that was a motion, but there are still other hands up-- I wanted to make a comment. We currently have staff attending this. We have a temporary staff member who has been attending the zoo meetings, who will now be with us further. So, that makes no sense to me. They are 100% zoom meetings. You can do them from your desk.
I guess I am not sure what you discussed at agenda review, but for me this item stands with all five of us. So, if we are going to postpone it it means it's hitting the agenda again um-- I might make a counter motion to, we have a staff member we are paying to attend it, then maybe we should pay the primary staff member um-- but I know there's a motion on the table, so I will--
Okay, we need to speak into the microphone. I can barely hear her. And I also want to go in order. That was councilmember Hinton. Now councilmember Maurer.
I don't support delaying this. I just have one comment. I would see if councilmember Carter would like to do it. If there was an exception possible, but I also want to point out we voted on our goals 5-0, to find grains. If this is a grand opportunity, then that is in alignment with what our goals are. I would like to have councilmember Hinton clarify if that is the point of these meetings. Are there grant opportunities at these meetings? That is my understanding. That was my understanding that, that climate grants are tougher for applying for, that has what it's been.
Vice Mayor?
You said someone is already attending--
When the staff report was put together-- Attended the last meeting. So we have a part-time associate planner filling in behind John J. Or she attended the last meeting.
Okay, there is a motion on the table by councilmember Carter. Was there a second? The motion fails. Is there another motion to be put forward by anyone? I would like to put forth um-- to direct city manager to ask our community development director to dedicate one hour of Zoom time for these meetings monthly at least for the next 3-6 months in her estimate as a department head and city manager and can discuss whether they should continue, but I see the opportunity and think that since we have another department head that attends similar meetings we should be consistent. Comment and a motion.
Is there a second to that motion?
I will second it, although I wish I could do it, but I will second that.
Roll call, Mary.
Thank you. So moved by councilmember Hinton, seconded by councilmember Carter to approve the Council providing direction to the city manager to have the community development director attend these informal climate meetings. Councilmember Carter? Councilmember Hinton? Trends--
I have a question, I wonder if we could amend the motion to say not just community develop a director, but someone in the planning department?
Is that meaningful to the second? Then Mary and Alex can we restart-- The voting, okay. So, Mary? Can you call the roll on the amended motion?
Thank you. So moved and the amendment was approved by councilmember Hinton and councilmember Carter to Council providing direction to have a member of the planning department-- I want to clarify-- Is it the, if it is decision-makers I would like to clarify it is the community director or associate planner-- Okay. Um-- to have the community development director or associate planner attend the climate first meetings. Councilmember Carter? Yes.
[ Roll being called ]
Motion passes with 3-2 with councilmembers Harter, Hinton, and Maurer in support, and Vice Mayor McLewis and mayor Zollman in opposition.
It is now almost 9:40, and we have a few items. I believe we are on agenda item 13? Question. Can we batch the Rotary and-- I don't know if that's legal to do it, can we put them together and vote on them together?
They are separate items, we have to handle them separately, but counsel certainly can go through them quickly.
Mary was, oh, you are saying no?
I was agreeing with him. [ Laughter ]
Okay. [ Laughter ]
Councilmember Carter?
Yeah, I was just wondering if there's something very important we need to make sure we can touch on tonight, do we have to go through the department head? The Council reports is that what you are talking about? Those we don't go through them, we just say the Council reports are on the website, so if someone, same with the minutes from the last budget committee meeting those are as well. And if the Council had community reports or anything they could say none at this time or give their reports, but we won't go through the reports individually.
Agenda item 13, consideration of a waiver of fees this is the Rotary Centennial response department this is important and the reason white it is underlined loss of revenue of $500, and responsible party is public works, city engineer-- Podium-- Good evening. This is Centeno-- Centennial anniversary for the Rotary Park. Sunday May 25th with some celebrations, it's just a celebration of 100 years. We are asking city Council to approve the waiver of the $500 fee.
Thank you. Are there questions before we go out for public comment? Councilmember Maurer?
I want to clarify with staff. Was the goal to support community events with sponsorships and reduce fees a 5-0 vote?
I believe it was. Can I verify that before I just say that? Let me pull it up really quick.
Yes, it was.
Any of the questions before we go to public comment? On my right, on my left, no.
Thank you Mayor, this is for public comment on the waiver of fees for the Rotary club Centennial celebration. If there is anyone on Zoom would like to make a public comment please raise your hand virtually. seeing none. Public comment is closed.
Back to the dais for discussion or comment.
I will make a motion.
Second.
Approval of the consideration of the waiver of fees for the Rotary Centennial. [ Roll being called ]
Motion passes unanimously.
Moving on to item 14. Oh my. We have two more. Okay. Consideration of the waiver of fees, the investable Chamber of Commerce 2025 Apple Blossom Festival and Parade responsible department's public works, city engineer. This is important to note fiscal impact special event fee $750. Public works staff time, $5200. Materials rentals $3000, and police staff time, 5670 and a total loss of revenue of $14,620.
This is the annual parade they are putting on, the Apple Blossom Festival and Parade. It's an ongoing event. Yes.
Keep finishing your train of thought. I am raising my hand for the first question.
No worries. There are approximately 10,000 visitors, it is a boost to the local economy within the region.
Thank you. Questions and comments?
It does not say last year, so I would like to know for the last two or two what have we waived and what have we charged? I don't think we have waived the fee is 100%, correct? Mary does have an answer.
I would like to see that on future agendas, just, I am assuming you repaired this, Mark, but it is nice to see if possible, but we always like to see what we did last her, too.
Understood.
I will read last year approved waiver $14,781.75. Part of that was a deposit they returned.
Councilmember Hinton considered amendment to bring to the board bringing back cost to the city if the event was successful. I am not aware the city receiving any refund, but we did waive the $14,000 in fees is my understanding based on the motion.
Any follow-up? Other questions? Looking to my left. No? Vice Mayor? I guess one thought I have is because being a liaison, I am just wondering why this is in part of the budgeting process, because it would help me to better understand, because it's another nonprofit, do you know what I-- It-- I am just wondering if there's a way to change this process so it's not like every your coming back, so it's more like the budget process. Is that-- So it's not currently part of the, let me back up. The history was we had community benefit grants. We used to to be able to the nonprofits would come in, we would grant so much funding for events which would cover events such as this. 5000, 10,000, somewhere all that.
A couple years ago we suspended all that, because the city's financial situation. We have not reinstituted that. We don't budget for waiver fees, because we do them on a case-by-case basis. So I'm not understanding how we would budget for them-- It's just every year it's put on the spot to one off, and it becomes challenging, thank you-- Just to jump onto that there are policies-- Don't want to put up an agenda item, but there are items we could put through the budget committee to see if there are ways we can streamline it.
Councilmember Carter? All right. Good. So, back to the amount we paid last year. So, it sounded like we paid close the amount that's being requested this year, which is the 14,620? That is correct. And we didn't pay anything, we just paid our staff for the overtime and stuff like that. So we were just paying the city for the cost of the staff in the overtime.
If no more questions, we will go to public comment.
This is for public comment on waiver of the fees for the special permit for the Apple Blossom Parade. If there's anyone in the chambers would like to make a comment. None? I will go out to Zoom, if there's anyone on Zoom would like to make a comment on the request for the waiver fees. These raise your hand. Seeing none. Public comment is closed on this item.
Thank you. Bringing it back to the dais--
I will make a motion to waive the fees for the Apple Blossom.
Is there a second?
I will second that.
Even though it is motion seconded I think there is still time for discussion. So, I appreciate councilmember Hinton raising what she raised last year, so I am hoping maybe she would like to restate the same motion she did last year around a potential reimbursement if there is a prophet?
I would happy be to bring that forward. I am a bit disappointed we had a super successful Apple Blossom that did not get rained out last year, and that request just kind of went by the wayside um-- I know this is important, but, it's a large amount for us when we have cut off the other nonprofits in town. So, I am--
My feeling is--
Wait.
There is a question.
I know but hold on, we still have--
I would ask if the motion maker might reconsider the motion um-- to be the same as last year .
That's a request for amendment. Is that acceptable? Was it councilmember Maurer? So, I'm not going to accept that amendment mostly because this is about building up our downtown Association in providing what we want is a vibrant downtown services, and this is something I think supports the brand of Sevastopol, and I want to support it, because it's more of an investment. It's a gift that keeps on giving.
Before we take the motion that's on the table and it is seconded, vice Mayor? I have a comment I'm only doing because we've received public comment there's a lot of different views on the impact on businesses with the prey. I am a parade supporter, but we receive a lot of very varied comments.
I have no more comments. There's a motion and a second. Roll call, Mary? -- Apple Blossom chamber event in the amount of $14,620. [ Roll being called ] If there is profit there would be consideration returning something back to the city given the fact we are declared fiscal emergency. With that, my vote is no.
The motion passes 4-1, with mayor Zollman in opposition.
Agenda item 15? Okay, moving on to agenda item 15, which is the last item for tonight, which is consideration waiver of fees Easter egg hunt, responsible department, public works and city engineer. Impact loss of revenue was $400.
By all means. This is sponsored-- Sebastopol . It's an Easter egg hunt that's coming up this Saturday, April 19th, and it's, they have been doing that for 50 years as you can see, and it's a fundraiser for them, and also to provide a family event for children and parents.
Great. Thank you. Questions from my colleagues in the dais? Public comment? This is public comment for the waiver of fees for the Easter egg hunt. If you would like to make a public comment, chambers first. Zoom? If you would like to make a public comment on the waiver of fees, raise your hand virtually. seeing none.
Ringing it back to the dais for possible motion or discussion ? I would like to move that we approve the wavering the fees of $400.
I will second.
I will second.
I mean whoever--
[ Laughter ]
We--
I will third.
We are all delirious. Roll call, Mary.
Okay, I will go who I heard first, Maurer-- Waive fees for the Easter egg hunt. [ Roll being called ] The motion passes unanimously.
Moving on to our second public comment period. This is two minutes per speaker up to 20 minutes, total of four public comments, and basically the essence is if you spoke during the first public comment you are not allowed to now.
This is as stated, the second public comment period. If you would like to make a public comment and did not speak earlier, chambers first, seeing none. I will go out to Zoom-- Oh, sorry, Mariah.
First, I wanted to thank you for approving, but I wanted to clarify something. We did reimburse the city. I can find the minutes from my board meeting, and we sent a check. We could look into that, but we did honor that agreement, and I want to make sure you knew that.
Thank you.
I will go back up to Zoom if there is anyone who would like to make a public comment raise your hand virtually. seeing none. I will come back into the chambers. Public comment is closed.
Moving on to councilmember requests for's-- For future agenda items. Seeing none. Then we are moving over down to city Council city staff reports comic indications, announcements, and future meetings. City integer or city clerk.
We have a meeting tomorrow morning.
Great. If nothing more we can move to reporting out. Vice Mayor? It will be very quick. Let's see here. I did attend the swearing-in of our new police chief which was very nice um-- love to see the mounted units, the horses. I also, yesterday, I, was it yesterday? The days are blurring. I attended a Zoom meeting with Congressman Thompson, and also Jared Huffman with the variety of North Bay folks, I believe they sent that to all of us. But, one thing that was interesting in talking to them which I had forgotten to mention earlier is they talked about the amount of federal grants that were being pulled, and not only pulled, but also clawed back, and they said that while many of our cities rely on state funding, that they are definitely going to see a ripple effect. They said it's going to get really ugly, so they were cautioning all of us about relying on grants, so that's when we were talking about grants, I got a little concerned. And then I also attended a meeting for the plan for next week I will be attending for the leadership Summit, and it will be at, we will be in Sacramento at the capital um-- touring with house cities and meeting with various folks. So Mike McGuire is on that list for us that date. I have spoken with city staff about messaging, so I will get with Alex on that as well. Those are a few things I am involved with right now.
Expect thank you, vice Mayor. Other report outs? Vice Mayor? Mary just reminded me with the Apple Blossom I forgot to mention that councilmembers and Mayor just for the public to know, they will be in town and doing a parade with us. The Apple Blossom Parade. They are excited about riding, walking in it with us.
All good. Councilmember Maurer?
I attended two budget meetings. With councilmember Carter. We have reviewed the CIP budget, and the public works budget, and some other funds. I attended a meeting with Sequoia Village residents to discuss their garbage/trash services and rates. They will be holding a town hall on April 29th at 5:30 p.m. at the youth Annex. And then, I attended the swearing-in for our new police chief, and that was really a special, heartwarming event. And they had some special Australian treats. And, it was just a really great event. So um-- and then, I attended to the mayors and councilmembers meeting, and Sebastopol hosted that at the Barlow event center. Councilmember Carter helped me with that task. Thank you. So, thank you to staff and the mayor and vice Mayor for all their work in pulling that together.
That was a big event, and I think it was really successful.
Can you repeat that town hall time?
April 29th, I think that is a Tuesday--
Yes. The flyer will be going out tomorrow. So they are hosting it. This is their event that they will be putting on for the community, and we just got the flyer tonight. So it will be going out to social media.
5:30 p.m. at the youth Annex right here.
Any other report outs? Councilmember Hinton?
Yes, so I attended, like we all did, mayor and council members of SEBASTOPOL hosted last Thursday. I also attended a board meeting on Monday for RCPA, and the general directors meeting following the executive board meeting um-- seems like I attended something else as well. But I am not finding it. Um-- and so yeah that's it.
Councilmember Carter?
Um-- I believe it was two weeks ago mayor Zollman and I had the very fortunate meeting with Jeff Cyphers, CEO of Sonoma clean power, and our talk was productive, and it will look to them looking directly at our city to see if-- Augment our efficiency.
Thank you, councilmember Carter. In addition to attending various regular meetings I'm glad your talk with staff Mike McGuire because they have been pushing with our city attorney through his staff to provide an update on where they are. And just today, I heard back verbally from the staff person that they are trying to request the letter from the Attorney General. They don't necessarily see it as a budget thing, but they see it as a standalone piece of legislation, and they're hoping to send that out to us as soon as possible. I encourage them to do it in writing, so they can keep up and what's happening there in D.C. Chris Rogers, thank you, and on Saturday at the Barlow. If we could get a status on that so we can bring Chris Rogers up to speed. I can see we are pushing for that have said and how fast we can get it. The mayors and councilmembers, I wanted to give all props and thanks to Mary, because it was a thing. It was a whole thing. And so, again, major props for Mary, because I don't know how many of us got applause, but several of our county electives said it was a fabulous event.
So thank you to all my colleagues.
I want to thank the councilmembers who helped, too. You all helped put this together. It was not just me.
Yes, but we can never give you enough flowers for all you do. Also I want to just be clear that at the mayors meeting, and it was reported out to all of us in the general mayors and councilmembers meeting, but it was fast. We are having a special mayors and councilmembers Association meeting to discuss what has been presented by supervisor Gore to us at a mayors meeting about the fact that, given where we are with the federal administration, we need to be more proactive. We need to look at the JPA's and see what we are getting by way of return on investment for us attending these regional meetings. And also to be very selective in who it is we think about prioritizing. Amongst ourselves, amongst the mayors and councilmembers. There was the library, who has a lot of money. What are they doing for us? Sonoma clean power? What are they doing for us? Coalition on that house? What are they doing for us? And as a reminder we as a city like this have majority votes on two out of those three bodies. So, we have control in the general sense from supervisor Gore is they will decide on a county level what three they want to put forth, mayors and councilmembers. We can decide what rate we want and hopefully we will have the match in synergy or we won't. So I want to bring that from the public. With that, that's it. Thank you.
Can I add one more thing? I did go to a Cloverdale city Council meeting, and I just wanted to mention it was very interesting. One of the things they passed was a vacant building ordinance. I just wanted to mention that.
Great, if there are no other--
We are adjourning into closed session.
Oh, yes. Thank you. So the wording we use is that we--
We are adjourning into closed session. You need to ask for public comment for three minutes on that closed session or public comment related to that topic. And then we need to have a rule and exit the room--
About what we are dressing-- No, it's already on the agenda? B agenda title is on the, see you ask for public comment for those, if anyone wants to give public comment in that, and if there is none we will adjourn into closed session, and we will shut the meeting off-- Back okay, with that, public comment-- Back if anyone would like to make a public comment on the a closed session item coming up please let me know. Seeing none. I will go out to Zoom if there is anyone on Zoom would like to make a public comment. Seeing none. We will adjourn into closed session could we will stop the meeting and give us a few seconds--
Rearrange, and the chamber needs to be emptied. Okay. So we are adjourning into a closed session. Thank you, everyone.
Thank you. So we are reconvening the meeting at 10:48. Okay. So, tech is good? Mary, we are good? We are reconvening an open session, and we have a report out from our closed session. And need to report out the following. The city of SEBASTOPOL announces that the city Council, and the city manager, Don Schwartz, have mutually agreed to end their professional relationship effective immediately. To effectuate the change of status the Council recorded a formal vote to release the city manager from his position for no cause and approved a general release agreement. In a vote of 3-2. Councilmembers zollman in favor-- Mr. Schwartz has served our community with professionalism and care. We are grateful for his service and contributions he has made to SEBASTOPOL. During his tenure Mr.
Schwartz helped guide the city through a number of significant challenges in his ear and a half as city mayor.-- City manager, sorry. Among other things Mr. Schwartz-- Consolidate the fire department and helped establish a path to solve the city's financial challenges. And interim city manager will be appointed in the coming days as the city begins a process of selecting a new city manager. The city Council thanks Don Schwartz for his service and extends its very best wishes for success in his future endeavors. Thank you.
Adjourn at 10:50. Thank you.
[ Event concluded ] [Event Concluded]